tation of the OPCAT. This initiated a dialogue with civil society about the composition of the Human Rights Advisory Council and the competences of this body. Formal launch event in Parliament On 10 July 2012, the collaboration with the newly established Human Rights Advisory Council and the Commissions was acclaimed in the first official ceremony. National Council President Barbara Prammer and the members of the AOB issued invitations to a formal launch event in the Austrian Parliament. Chairperson Terezija Stoisits and Ombudspersons Peter Kostelka und Gertrude Brinek introduced the new competences undertaken by the AOB. Subsequently, the newly established Human Rights Advisory Council was introduced by its Chairwoman Renate Kicker and Deputy Chairwoman Gabriele Kucsko-Stadlmayer. Subsequently, the constitutive meetings of the Commissions were held. Information on the new competences Within the scope of many events and meetings, the AOB provided information about its new competences and deepened its relationships to important international institutions and Austrian control bodies. There have also been numerous work-intensive visits to regional offices by AOB executives. The purpose of these informational events was to discuss the impact of the new competences and investigative activities on the Laender and to consult on cooperation possibilities. Collaborations with professional associations Among the many working meetings, the meetings with institutions and professional associations that have comparable competences as the AOB or are pursuing similar objectives were especially notable. For example, cooperation possibilities were discussed with associations covered by the Act for Legal Trusteeship for Associations, Patients and Inhabitants of Homes and Institutions as well as with children and youth advocates and collaboration agreements were formed. The purpose was to prevent duplication of activities (for example, by coordinating visits) and improve the effectiveness of the participating bodies by engaging in information-sharing on an institutional basis. Forum for sharing of expert knowledge The AOB, however, also provides a forum for the sharing of expert knowledge. An example is the “Fachgespräch Staatsbürgerschaft” (expert discussion on citizenship), which took place in September 2012 and was organised jointly with the Counselling Centre for Migrants. Around 40 experts from federal and regional authorities, as well as representatives of various sciences and civil society, discussed access to citizenship compared to other European countries and current developments in Austrian citizenship law. With events of this kind, the AOB is fulfilling its legal mandate to cooperate with the sciences. 22