Overview of the National Preventive Mechanism due to the low budget, which impaired the work of the SPT, in particular the visits to the countries. The Chairperson emphasised the importance of the OPCAT special fund. After the reports from the heads of the SPT regional teams, the revision of the OPCAT convention was announced. In this context, a comprehensive new definition of the term “places of detention” is planned, as the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the changeability of this term. In conclusion, it was emphasised that the OPCAT states bear a special responsibility in dealing with COVID-19 and that NPMs should not only be regarded as opponents of the legislators but as their allies. Pandemic calls for new definition of the term „places of detention“ With COVID-19, it became clear that the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities required special attention during the pandemic. The United Nations, the EU and the Council of Europe agreed that in the context of the pandemic persons with disabilities are particularly at risk of living a life in poverty and are confronted with neglect, abuse and violence far more frequently than others. They are thus some of the persons worst affected by the COVID-19 crisis. A report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities shows how serious the situation is for persons with disabilities in institutional care, in prisons and psychiatric institutions. COVID-19 and the rights of persons with disabilities As it is difficult to say how long the pandemic will dictate how we live our daily lives, it is of paramount importance that the NPMs adapt their preventive monitoring work to the new conditions and develop mechanisms to guarantee the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. In light of this, the European Network of NHRIs (ENNHRI) organised a webinar together with the NPM from Georgia at which European NPMs were able to share their ideas and experience with experts from the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the EU. The Austrian NPM also took part. As a member of the South-East Europe NPM Network (SEE NPM Network), experts from the Austrian NPM took part in the SEE NPM Network meetings again in 2020. The Croatian NPM, in their function as chair, organised two virtual meetings in 2020, which addressed the ways of effectively preventing and detecting torture and other cruel treatment in the first few hours of police custody. SEE NPM Network holds virtual meetings A total of twelve NPMs shared their experience of preparing and carrying out visits to police institutions and prisons. The basis for this was a survey by the Vienna Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights with reference to instructing detainees about the reason for their arrest, informing relatives about the arrest and having access to legal aid and medical care. First hours in police custody Solutions were developed to problems that arise when investigating alleged misbehaviour on the part of the police such as when there are only insufficient official records or none at all. It was agreed that visits should continue to Unannounced visits and confidential talks essential 20