Implementation of Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2013 On 26 March 2013, the South-East Europe NPMs created, in Belgrade (Serbia), the South-East Europe NPM Network (SEE NPM Network), the aim of which is, among other things, to establish a better cooperation, exchange of experience and several joint activities in order to improve the efficiency of fulfilling the mandate and exercising the powers of the NPMs under the Optional Protocol. On this occasion, the representatives of the NPMs from Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia (with the participation of one of the Ombudsmen from Bosnia and Herzegovina) adopted the Declaration of Cooperation, elected the leadership and set initial objectives. The fact that it has been the Slovenian NPM to be entrusted with the first network presidency is considered a great recognition of the previous work of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia. Subsequently, the network was also joined by the Austrian NPM. On 24 October 2013, the NPM attended the first meeting of the network’s medical group that took place in Belgrade (Serbia). During this event, the participants addressed the need for a multidisciplinary approach in the work of the NPMs by including medical specialists. Moreover, they tackled the status of medical specialists within the NPM structure, discussed the methodology applied during the visits to places of deprivation of liberty and outlined the role of medical specialists in drafting reports on the NPM visits. Special attention was also paid to the health-care standards, especially those in police detention facilities and prisons, the role of health workers in preventing abuse and the standards for psychiatric institutions. Moreover, the participants considered preparing guidelines for the work of medical specialists, elaborating a list of medical specialists who would specifically engage in the NPM’s activities within the network, forming a group of psychiatrists as part of the medical team and training medical workers. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2013 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT 19