3 REVIEW OF OTHER NPM ACTIVITIES IN 2017 1. 11 January The Ombudsman organised a meeting of representatives of all the non2017 governmental organisations cooperating with the Ombudsman in the work of the NPM. They reviewed the activities that were implemented in the previous year and assessed them as successful. They visited 80 closed institutions in Slovenia, the highest number since 2008, when they started implementing the duties and powers of the NPM. They also discussed the work of the NPM in the future. They established the need for thematic visits where special attention is paid to certain aspects of the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty (e.g. the position of children and adolescents and other vulnerable groups). The meeting was followed by a consultation on communicating with people with mental health problems. Mag. Jure Markič, member of the NPM, initially presented the NPM’s experience with conducting interviews with residents of social care institutions during previous visits. The Deputy Ombudsman, Ivan Šelih, pointed out the recommended standards of the SEE NPM Network and other organisations (e.g. the CPT) for social care institutions. Representatives of the Spominčica – Alzheimer Slovenia association, Štefanija L. Zlobec and Alenka Virant, presented dementia, how to recognise it, and how the environment treats patients suffering from this disease. The consultation ended with a lecture by the NPM’s external expert, Associate Professor Dr Peter Pregelj MD, who presented individual psychological disorders in detail, focusing in particular on the special characteristics of communicating with people with such a disorder. All participants agreed that they would be able to use this new knowledge in the future work of the NPM and when visiting social care institutions, psychiatric hospitals, and other institutions where freedom of movement is restricted. 2. 19 January At the Ombudsman’s office, the Ombudsman and the Deputy Ombudsman, 2017 Ivan Šelih, met with Štefanija Lukič Zlobec and David Krivec, representatives of the Slovenian association for help with dementia, Spominčica – Alzheimer Slovenia. They discussed issues concerning the setting up of a dementia-friendly community, and agreed on cooperation in projects aimed at increasing awareness and establishing a care system for people with dementia. 3. 24 January The Deputy Ombudsman, Ivan Šelih, and the Ombudsman’s advisers, mag. Jure 2017 Markič and Ana Polutnik, met at the Ombudsman’s office with representatives of the Association of Social Institutions of Slovenia, Jaka Bizjak, Živa Cotič and Stanka Vozlič (Director of the Dom Lukavci special social care institution). The subject of the discussion was the placement of people in special social care institutions under the Mental Health Act. 4. 27 January The Deputy Ombudsman, Ivan Šelih, attended a working consultation at 2017 Ljubljana Moste police station, where they tried to develop joint systemic solutions for the treatment of juvenile runaways in other family communities. The consultation was organised by the Criminal Police Directorate of the General Police Directorate, in cooperation with the Association of Centres for Social Work. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2017 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT 25