CAT/OP/HUN/R.2
33. While noting the professionalism of some of the NPM members when conducting
interviews with the detainees, the Subcommittee recommends that all NPM
participants undergo regular trainings, including on interview techniques, visiting
procedures and skills to detect signs and risks of torture and ill treatment, to develop
working methods and a comprehensive visiting methodology that will highlight
institutional and systematic challenges, including those affecting vulnerable populations in
places where persons are deprived of liberty. Experienced NPM members could train the
new members and the external experts on interviewing techniques.
B.
Recommendations on methodological issues relating to visits
Work plan, reporting and follow-up
34.
The NPM plans its visiting activates on a yearly basis, taking into account the
different type and geographical location of places of deprivation of liberty and the
categories of persons deprived of liberty as well as thematic target(s) of the year. However,
the SPT observed that the NPM is mainly focusing on detention monitoring activities.
35.
The Subcommittee recommends that the NPM should focus not only on visiting
places of deprivation of liberty but also on other preventive activities. The
Subcommittee further recommends the NPM to develop an annual plan of work
which should include all preventive activities, such as commenting on draft legislation,
awareness raising and training activities, in accordance with article 19 of the Optional
Protocol and article 9 of the NPM assessment tool.
36.
To properly fulfil its mandate under the Optional Protocol in various areas and
keeping in mind its preventive role the NPM is advised to critically analyse its activities
against relevant international guiding acts. Such an exercise can be done by using
13
Subcommittee’s NPM assessment tool and its matrix. Having clear overview of areas
that are insufficiently covered, the NPM can (together with its partners) make wellgrounded working plan for immediate implementation and future development.
37.
Following the visits, the members of the visiting delegation prepare partial reports
that are summarised by the head of visiting delegation. Visit reports are subsequently
submitted to the respective authorities, as well as to the head of the place of detention
concerned, the addressees of the recommendations, and the members of the CCB as well as
to the Hungarian member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture. Then
the visits reports are made publicly available in Hungarian. Some of them are also
translated into English, depending on the availability of funds.
38.
The Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights publishes its annual reports
and the reports on the inspections conducted by the NPM on Commissioner’s website.
However, the Subcommittee was informed that the drafting and publication of the NPM
reports could take very long time due to the wish to aim for high quality and the
comprehensiveness of the reports. In this regard the Subcommittee underlines that extended
delays in drafting and publication of the reports can have a negative impact on the timely
follow-up to the visit report recommendations and eventually overall conditions of people
in detention.
39.
While the Subcommittee notes that reports of visits are prepared and submitted to
the authorities, it also notes that there is no clear policy concerning the systematic followup and dialogue procedure.
40.
Further to making the annual report public, pursuant to article 23 of the
Optional Protocol, the Subcommittee recommends that it should be discussed publicly
in parliament and widely publicized. The annual report of the NPM should be distinct
from the annual report of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental.
41.
The Subcommittee further recommends that the NPM enters into a continuous
dialogue with the relevant State and other authorities as well as with other addressees
13
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