International activities An AOB expert attended the 9th International Human Rights Forum in Lucerne in April 2013, which focused on the key topic “Human rights and persons with disabilities”. Human Rights Forum in Lucerne As part of the TAIEX programme by the European Commission, the Ombudsman of Macedonia organised a workshop in October 2013, whose topic was “The role of judges in monitoring the rights of detainees”. An AOB expert gave an overview of the legal situation during detention and compared the tasks of judges to those of ombudsman institutions and NPMs. TAIEX / European Commission The AOB was also represented by an expert at a conference on developing minimum standards for detaining migrants, which was organised by the Council of Europe and the UK NPM and took place in Strasbourg in November 2013. Council of Europe 4.3 Bilateral contacts In its role as NPM, the AOB in January 2013 welcomed the Federal Ombudsman of Belgium for an official visit in Vienna. The exchange of information primarily focused on the AOB’s experiences in implementing the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), and in setting up the NPM. The head of one of the NPM commissions, Reinhard Klaushofer, delivered a first experience report based on the visits. The deputy chairperson of the Human Rights Advisory Council, Gabriele Kucsko-Stadlmayer, and the other members Christian Pilnacek and Heinz Patzelt offered valuable information on the work of the Human Rights Advisory Council. The establishment of a NPM in Belgium was still in the planning phase at the time of the visit and the Belgian delegation was able to use their visit to exchange valuable experiences and find incentives for further co-operation options. Exchange of experiences of NPM Sir Nigel Rodley, Director of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex and Chairman of the UN Human Rights Committee made use of a stay in Vienna to attend a work meeting with the AOB. The then AOB members informed Sir Rodley of the AOB’s activities as National Human Rights Institution and particularly highlighted activities together with the commissions. The Chairwoman of the Human Rights Advisory Council, Renate Kicker, and commission head Ernst Berger reported based on their practical experiences. In 2013, the AOB again used the opportunity of bilateral meetings to exchange knowledge and information internationally. For instance, the then Ombudsman Peter Kostelka welcomed a delegation from the Petitions Committee of the German Bundestag in April. Other guests in April included Salla Saastamoinen, the Director of the Department of Fundamental and Child Rights at the European Commission’s General Justice Directorate. A delegation of the parliamentary commission of the South African province KwaZulu Natal took the opportunity of their stay in Austria to obtain an idea of the many tasks of the AOB. Work meetings 55