11 Working Methods Our principal task is to uncover, examine and understand the ­specific challenges at each place we ­visit. We make recommendations on how risk of inhuman treatment can be limited, to better safeguard those who have been deprived of their liberty, and we use dialogue as a means of implementing change. We also work strategically through knowledge-sharing and advocacy. The working methods of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) shall identify the risk of torture and inhuman treatment, to prevent people from ­being subjected to such violations. The risk of torture or inhuman treatment is influenced by factors such as legal and institutional frameworks, physical conditions, training, resources, manage­ ment and institutional culture.1 Therefore we have a broad methodological approach. Our primary method is to visit places where ­persons are deprived of their liberty. Visits give us the opportunity to speak with persons deprived of their liberty, and provide insight into the conditions in places in Norway where deprivation of liberty takes place. — Effective and credible prevention efforts depends on our freedom to choose which places we visit, and how and when we carry out the visits. It also requires full access to documents and all parts of the institution we visit, and the opportunity to conduct interviews in private. — Visits to places where people are deprived of their liberty During our visit, we would like to have a private conversation with you. Your experience can help others and people who come here at a later date. The conversations are kept confidential. We do not give advance notice of our visits to ensure that the conditions we observe at your institution are as accurate as possible. After the visit, we write a report describing our findings from the visit. The report also contains recommendations about what should be done to prevent anyone being subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment. The report is made public. Prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment www.sivilombudsmannen.no 22 82 85 00 or 800 80 039 (Free number) 1 Read more at: www.sivilombudsmannen.no or in our brochure. You can ask one of the staff for a brochure. P.O. Box 3 Sentrum, NO-0101 Oslo Sivilombudsmannens forebyggingsenhet See the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT): The approach of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture to the concept of prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 30 December 2010 CAT/OP/12/6.