Appendix: 4.1 APPENDIX: SLOVENIAN NPM'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE REPORT Funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe Implemented by the Council of Europe European NPM forum NPM Impact Assessment A conference hosted by the NPM of Slovenia on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, co-organized with the Council of Europe 17-18 April 2018 Hotel Slon, Ljubljana, Slovenia General report by Trevor Stevens On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the national preventive mechanism of Slovenia, the representatives of more than twenty European and North African NPMs gathered together in Ljubljana from 17 to 18 April 2018 for a conference on «NPM Impact Assessment». The conference was opened in the presence of the Minister of Justice of Slovenia, the Ombudsman and representatives of a wide range of Ministries. There was broad agreement that during the decade following its very first visit on 19 March 2008, the Slovenian NPM had succeeded in establishing a climate of trust and respect. The high quality of the mechanism’s work was recognised by all the Ministries represented and this was illustrated by the fact that a significant number of its recommendations had been implemented. Similarly, the NPM’s proposals and observations on existing and draft legislation were valued. It was stressed that the mechanism’s on-site monitoring activities had been accompanied by considerable efforts to sustain a constructive dialogue with the authorities concerned, a dialogue which had led not only to improvements in specific institutions but also to system- wide changes. Reference was made in this connection to the NPM’s participation in various ministerial bodies, including an inter-ministerial working group tasked with coordinating the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. Specific mention was made of the significant contribution to the NPM’s activities provided as from the outset by non-governmental organisations, through cooperation agreements with the mechanism. The importance of the decision taken in 2014 to set up a special NPM unit within the Ombudsman’s Office was also emphasised; this had been beneficial for the overall effectiveness of the mechanism and made it possible to significantly increase the number of visits. The NPM «makes a difference» declared the Minister of Justice, as he paid tribute to the Deputy Ombudsman, Ivan Šelih, who had led and inspired the mechanism ever since its inception. Turning their attention to the issue of NPM impact assessment, participants noted that the representatives of six European NPMs had already exchanged views on «trying to gauge NPM impact» at a meeting held 50 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2018 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT