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MANDATE OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM
Under the Law on Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1 the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) shall
visit facilities where persons deprived of their liberty are held or may be held, to deter public authorities and
officials from any form of torture or any other form of ill-treatment, as well as to provide direction to public
authorities towards creating accommodation and other living conditions in facilities where persons deprived
of their liberty are held in accordance with applicable regulations and standards.
NPM is entitled to: unhindered and unannounced access, at any time, to all facilities and premises where
persons deprived of their liberty are held; speak in private with those persons and officials, who must
cooperate regarding this matter, as well as with all other persons who may have information relevant to the
treatment of persons deprived of their liberty; access all documentation relating any such person; make
recommendations to the competent authorities in order to improve the treatment of persons deprived of their
liberty and to improve the conditions in facilities where they are detained or imprisoned. After the visits, the
NPM compiles reports and submits them to the visited facilities. After that, the NPM maintains a constant
dialogue with the visited facility, as well as with the authority which the facility is a part of, in order to
eliminate the identified shortcomings that may lead to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Article 2a of the Law stipulates that the Protector of Citizens performs the NPM tasks and that in
performing these tasks he cooperates with the ombudsmen of the autonomous provinces and
associations whose statutes provide for the promotion and protection of human rights and freedoms, in
accordance with the law.
A special organizational unit, the National Preventive Mechanism Department, which performs the NPM
functions, has been formed in the institution of the Protector of Citizens.
The Protector of Citizens and the Ombudsman of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina signed a
Memorandum of Cooperation for performing NPM tasks,2 which stipulates that the Provincial
Ombudsman will actively participate in NPM monitoring team visits to the facilities where persons
deprived of their liberty are held at the territory of AP Vojvodina.
''Official Gazette of Serbia and Montenegro – International Agreements'', Nos. 16/05 and 2/06 and ''Official Gazette of RS – International
Agreements'', No. 7/11.
2 Signed on 12 December 2011.
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