Home > National preventive mechanism > Activites

NPM IMPLEMENTING TRAINING ON THE TOPIC "MANDATE, JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE OF NP-NPM"

• On 18 and 19 December, the Ombudsman's Representatives - National Preventive Mechanism in Veles conducted training on the topic "Mandate, competence and actions of the Ombudsman - National Preventive Mechanism foreseen in the Annual Program within the project" Improvement of the review system with asylum and naturalization".
  
  The training was attended by representatives from the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association who had the opportunity to present their mandate and manner of action.
  
  The aim of the training was to clarify the Ombudsman's actions - National Preventive Mechanism regarding the legal competence and methodology for conducting preventive visits in the places where persons are deprived of liberty or their freedom of movement is limited.
  
  The new competencies of the Ombudsman were also presented with the latest legal changes.
  
  During the training, the team of the National Preventive Mechanism with representatives of the UNHCR and the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association covered several current issues in the discussion regarding the improvement of the asylum review system and respect for the rights of the refugees.
  
  The conducted training was the last of the envisaged trainings for 2018, and the previous four trainings on the topic "Mandate, competence and action of the Ombudsman - National Preventive Mechanism were intended for officials from the Border Police and were held in the four regional centers for border affairs: Regional Center for Border Affairs North (Skopje), Regional Center for Border Affairs south (Kavadarci), Regional Center for Border Affairs West (Ohrid) and Regional Center for Border Affairs East (Delcevo).

GLOBAL ROUND TABLE: "ACCEPTANCE AND MEASURES FOR FOSTERING CHILDREN ASSISTORS OF ASYLUM"

• Representative of the Office of the Ombudsman, on October 10 and 11, 2018, participated in the Global Round Table on "Reception and Measures for Child Care for Asylum Seekers" held in Bangkok, Thailand.
  The participants at the round table had the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences with members, activists from international organizations who work and create policies in the field of child care refugees - asylum seekers and adoption and adoption of measures for child care and their practice.
  
  The Round Table is part of the Global Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program for the Prevention of Child Retention and Child Protection and other Detained Asylum Seekers, a joint project of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in cooperation with the European Union, through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
  
  Representatives of national institutions from the Republic of Macedonia (Ombudsman, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy), representatives of the UNHCR offices from the countries where the program is being implemented (Macedonia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium), as well as a number of relevant international organizations and institutions relevant to the protection of human rights, with a focus on the rights of refugee asylum seekers.

TRAINING ON THEME: "STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR CARRYING OUT UNCERTAIN JUNIOR CHILDREN-FEMALE"

• Representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman, from September 26 to 28, took part in training on the topic "Standard Operating Procedures for Handling Unaccompanied Minors-Foreigners" held in Ohrid.
  
  The training is attended by representatives of several institutions and civil society organizations, as well as the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association, representatives of the Ministry of Interior and the Sector for Asylum in this Ministry, the non-governmental organizations "La Strada" and "Legis" representatives of the Red Cross, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Each of the representatives interacted with their proposals to overcome the problems that arise in the practical implementation of these Standard Operating Procedures.
  
  The training was part of the third training cycle conducted by the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association within the USAID project for the protection of refugee and migrant rights.

THE NPM ATTENDED THE PRESENTATION OF THE FINAL PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE IDRIZOVO PENITENTIARY

• On 29.08.2018, the team of the National Preventive Mechanism, upon prior invitation of the Directorate for Execution of Sanctions, attended the presentation of the completed first phase of the construction of the Idrizovo Penitentiary, which was held within the CPI-CPI Idrizovo.
  
  The Justice Minister, together with the Director of the Sanctions Administration, presented the new premises of the KPU-CPI "Idrizovo" to the public. Namely, there are two facilities - an open and semi-open department, which are with accommodation capacity for around five persons. In addition to the accommodation facilities at the disposal of convicts, there will be newly built playgrounds and promenades.
  
  The National Preventive Mechanism team welcomes the project for the renovation of penitentiary institutions and considers that with the improvement of the material conditions a positive step has been made towards the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

28.02–02.03.2018, Strumica, Macedonia

TRAINING ON THE “STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR PREVENTION OF AND RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV)“

• Representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman - National Preventive Mechanism, attended a training on the “Standard Operating Procedures for prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV)“ which took place from 28.02.2018 till 02.03.2018 in Strumica, Macedonia.
  
  The training was part of the second cycle of trainings carried out within the USAID project for Protection of the Rights of Migrants and Refugees.
  
  At the training, the root causes of gender-based violence were presented and the phenomenon of gender-based violence itself in conditions of humanitarian crisis as well as the ways of dealing with this kind of violence.
  
  The training was aimed at facilitating the application of the Standard Operating Procedures for dealing with cases of gender-based violence in practice, as well as highlighting the guiding principles thereto.

18–20.12.2017 Madrid, Kingdom of Spain

STUDY VISIT OF AOM'S WORKING GROUP ON THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANT CHILDREN IN MADRID, SPAIN

• Representative of the Ombudsman Office - National Preventive Mechanism, took part in a study visit to Madrid, Spain, as part of the working group of the Association of Ombudsmen of the Mediterranean for the Rights of Migrant Children.
  
  The visit was envisaged as part of the AOM/AOMF joint action plan for 2017-2018 and was organized at the invitation of the Ombudsman of Spain. During the visit, the members of the working group had the opportunity to get acquainted with the treatment of migrant children in Spain and to share their experience in this field at the same time.
  
  Several meetings were held with the Head of the Asylum and Migration Department of the Spanish Ombudsman, who presented the situation in Spain with migrant children with a special emphasis on the process of age assessment. During the visit, a meeting was also held with the Head of the Juvenile Department of the Ombudsman of Andalusia, as well as with representatives of NGOs that provide assistance and protection to migrant children. As part of the programme, the participants visited one of the centers for reception of minors - asylum seekers, managed by the Spanish non-governmental organization “Merced Migraciones”.

01-03.12.2017, Ohrid, Macedonia

TRAINING ON THE "STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR TREATMENT OF VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING“

• Representatives of the Ombudsman Office - National Preventive Mechanism, attended training on the "Standard Operational Procedures for Treatment of Victims of Human Trafficking" which took place from 1 to 3 December in Ohrid.
  
  The training is part of a cycle of trainings that are being carried out within the project implemented by Macedonian Young Lawyers Association and USAID for protection of the rights of migrants and refugees.
  
  The training was carried out by representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Advisor on non-discrimination, prevention and protection of victims of human trafficking and UN lawyer and expert on human rights from Austria.
  

28–30.11.2017, Brussels, Belgium

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OMBUDSMAN – NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM PARTICIPATED ON A WORKSHOP/TRAINING ON “ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION”

• Representative of the Ombudsman - National Preventive Mechanism, participated in a three-day training which took place in Brussels, Belgium from 28 to 30 November.
  
  The workshop was organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the European Union, within a combined learning programme focused on monitoring of detention of migrants and alternatives to detention. The participants shared their experience and good practices through practical exercises in order to establish an effective mechanism of alternatives to detention of refugees.
  
  The workshop was attended by representatives from UNHCR offices of several focus countries, as well as representatives of other organizations, national institutions and experts in this field.

23-24.08.2016, Veles

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OMBUDSMAN – THE NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM ATTENDED TRAINING ON THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE RECEPTION CENTER FOR FOREIGNERS

• Representative of the Ombudsman - National Preventive Mechanism attended a training on the Standard Operating Procedures of the Reception Center for Foreigners, which was held under the auspices of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on 23rd  and 24th August in Veles.
  
  The main focus of the training were the basic principles of the Standard Operating Procedures of the Reception Center for Foreigners, aimed at implementation of the Law on Foreigners and the Rulebook for the House Rules of the Reception Center for Foreigners.

13-15.04.2016, Ohrid

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OMBUDSMAN - NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM PARTICIPATED IN SEMINAR ON THE TREATMENT OF VULNERABLE GROUPS OF PEOPLE

• A representative of the Ombudsman - National Preventive Mechanism attended the seminar, which took place from the 13th till the 15th of April in Ohrid, aimed to prepare the final version of the Standard Operating Procedures for dealing with vulnerable persons – aliens, such as pregnant women, children and single parents. The document was intended to be a guide that will help provide proper access to these vulnerable groups.
  
  The seminar was organized by the Sector for Asylum at the Department of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the UNHCR Office in Skopje.
  

9-11.05.2016, Pristina, Republic of Kosovo

“STRENGTHENING OF THE SKILLS FOR MONITORING THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS” – TOPIC OF THE TRAINING ATTENDED BY A  REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OMBUDSMAN - NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM

• A representative of the Ombudsman - National Preventive Mechanism attended the three-day training on “Strengthening the skills for monitoring juvenile detention centers in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia”, from 9th till 11th of May.
  
  The training was organized by “Matra KoPROL” project - “Improving the prison conditions for reintegration of juvenile detention centers in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia", supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This project was developed together with trainers from the International penitentiary reform upon previously conducted analysis of the project partners from all three countries.
  
  In Macedonia, this project is going to be implemented by May 2017 in cooperation with the Directorate for Execution of Sanctions, the Penitentiary in Ohrid, the Educational – Correctional Facility in Tetovo and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia.
  
  The training was attended by representatives from the Ombudsman - National Preventive Mechanisms of Albania and Kosovo, representatives of the Helsinki Committees of Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo and Netherlands, representatives from the Centre for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture in Kosovo as well as lawyers from Kosovo.
  
  The training was arranged through interactive lectures and practical exercises as well as casework, striving to develop a technique for more advanced monitoring of places where persons are deprived of liberty. On the second day of the seminar, the attendees conducted a visit to the juvenile detention center in Lipjan, where they had a chance to practice the monitoring process and take a tour around the Center as part of a practical exercise.
  

18.12.2015, Skopje

OMBUDSMAN’ SPECIAL REPORT ON THE CENTERS FOR ACCOMMODATION OF MIGRANTS

• Upon conducted visits to the Centers for accommodation of migrants-Center "Vinojug"-Gevgelija and the Transit center "Tabanovce", the Ombudsman prepared and submitted a special report on the concluded situation there and gave specific recommendations for improving the conditions of accommodation and sojourn of migrants.
  
  The Ombudsman found inhumane conditions in the Center "Vinojug"-Gevgelija in all the segments, starting with the acceptance of the migrants, their registration, the conditions for sojourn especially in winter, the food, the health care, and the treatment of the vulnerable categories: children, women and disabled persons. The Ombudsman concluded direct discrimination in the payment of the tickets for transport of the migrants and violation of the Geneva Convention on the Status of the Refugees.
  
  In terms of the conditions in the Transit Center "Tabanovce", the Ombudsman expressed particular concern about the situation with the transport of vulnerable groups who are left to walk on muddy paths due to the poor organization and coordination, although only few meters away there is a regular border crossing.
  
  The Special Report is submitted to the Government, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, the Director of Centre for Crisis Management, the Managers of the Centers, to the Steering Committee for handling the crisis situation and to the UNHCR.
  

23.12.2014, Ohrid

ROUND TABLE ON THE RIGHT AND PRACTICE IN PROTECTION AND SMUGGLING OF MIGRANTS, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND SECURITY CHECK

• The right and the practice for protection of refugees and smuggling of migrants/asylum seekers and safe check of asylum seekers was the topic of the round table organized by the Office of the High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors attended by a representative of the National Preventive Mechanism.
  
  The round table was a forum for discussion in the field of prevention and fight against smuggling of migrants, the challenges during investigation with a special accent on the protection of victims and witnesses, implementation of the Law on asylum and temporary protection and the meaning of the threat on the security of the state in relation to asylum seekers. The NPM representative had a presentation on “The mandate and recommendations for places where illegal migrants and foreigners are temporary deprived of liberty” with focus on the treatment towards women and children and the need to secure adequate conditions for their accommodation set by the practice of the European Court of Human Rights. 

22.12.2014 Skopje

NPM REPRESENTATIVE PARTICIPATED IN A PRESENTATION OF THE DRAFT NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRISON SYSTEM

• On 22 December 2014 representative of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) participated in a round table organized by the Council of Europe Programme Office within the scope of the project “Capacity Building of the Law Enforcement Agencies for Appropriate Treatment of Detained and Sentenced Persons”, where the draft National Strategy for development of the penitentiary system and the Actional Plan for realization were presented.
  
  Various experiences about the need for introducing changes within the penitentiary system were exchanged at the round table, the existing problems and the key questions for development, presentation of the National strategy, as well as a discussion about the possibility for inclusion within its finalization.

22.10.2014, Skopje

BILATERAL MEETING OF THE MACEDONIAN NPM WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HUNGARIAN OMBUDSMAN

• The National Preventive Mechanism had an official meeting with a representative of the Hungarian Ombudsman, Mr. Gergely Fliegauf-Chief of the OPCAT Bureau. At this meeting the Macedonian NPM team acquainted Mr. Fliegauf with the methodology for conducting preventive visits, the manner of cooperation with external experts, and he was introduced to some collaborators from several professional associations.
  
  It was concluded that the exchange of experience the Macedonian NPM team has is of utmost importance, along with the membership in the Network of NPMs of the South-east Europe. Mr. Fliegauf was also acquainted with the experience the team has from the cooperation with the respective bodies.

20-21.10, 2014 Skopje

REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON “MONITORING OF PSYCHIATRIC ESTABLISHMENTS IN PROTECTION FROM TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT“

• ”Monitoring of psychiatric establishments in protection from torture and ill-treatment” was the topic of the regional conferences that was held in Skopje in organization of the Technical Assistance Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX), in cooperation with the Ombudsman-National Preventive Mechanism (NPM).
  The regional conference was attended by representatives of the National Preventive Mechanism from South-eastern Europe, the European Committee for prevention from torture and the Sub-committee for prevention from torture of the United Nations. Among others, representatives from the psychiatric institutions of the Republic of Macedonia, the Association of Psychiatrists of the Republic of Macedonia and the Association of Forensics of the Institute for Forensics also took participation in this event.
  “The meaning of this conference was of particular importance since it presented a forum where the National Preventive Mechanisms from the region shared their experiences. Individual presentations about the NPM competences in psychiatric institutions had Mr. Ivan Shelih-Deputy Ombudsman of Slovenia and Chief of the NPM Network of South-eastern Europe, who spoke about the “NPM mandate and the freedom of movement”, while as prof. dr. Slagjana Shtrkalj, Psychiatrist and member of the Croatian NPM, spoke on “The role of the psychiatrist in the preventive visits of the NPM”. The representative of the NPM team of Austria, prof. dr. Ernst Berger talked about the “Monitoring of human rights in mental health establishments, examples from Austria”.
  The Slovenian standards were also shared during this event. Particular stress was set on the means of restrain, the treatment towards vulnerable categories, the treatment of persons with forced hospitalization and de-institutionalization of persons with mental health problems. The standards of the European Committee for prevention from torture and the role of the Sub-committee for prevention from torture of the United Nations were also among the presentations of this conference.
  Some of the recommendations refer to greater protection of patients in psychiatric establishments, greater information about their rights, respect of the voluntarism, and the need for events of this kind which serve as forums for exchange of information and best practices in direction of prevention from torture and other inhuman treatment.

15-17.10.2014 Skopje, Bitola and Shtip

NPM REPRSENTATIVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT “CAPACITY BUILDING OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR APPROPRIATE TREATMENT OF DETAINED AND SENTENCED PERSONS “

• From 15 to 17 October in Skopje, Bitola and Shtip a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) representative participated in three workshops organized by the Council of Europe Programme Office and in cooperation with the Department for Internal Control and Professional Standards of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors as part of the project “Capacity Building of the Law Enforcement Agencies for Appropriate Treatment of Detained and Sentenced Persons”.
  At these workshops the NPM representative acquainted the participants about the role of the Ombudsman-National Preventive Mechanism-control over the treatment with apprehended and detained persons. The NPM representative also presented the recommendations of the NPM team in terms of preventive actions for the purpose of prevention of torture and other inhuman treatment. 

17-19.09.2014, Zagreb, Croatia

THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM CARRIED OUT A STUDY VISIT TO ZAGREB

• Supported by the Technical Assistance Information Exchange Instrument TAIEX of the European Commission, representatives of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) together with a representative from the Department for International Cooperation from 17 to 19 September carried out a study visit to the Croatian NPM, exchanging experiences and practices in the domain of prevention from torture in places of deprivation of liberty.
  
  During the three days visit there was an exchange of experience and methodology for conducting preventive visits to places of deprivation of liberty. Particular focus of the visit was on the best practices of Croatia in managing vulnerable categories in places of deprivation of liberty, especially women and persons with mental illnesses.
  
  The Macedonian team together with the Croatian National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) carried out a visit to the female prison Požega and the Psychiatric hospital in Popovača.

13-15.08.2014, Belgrade

• On a Council of Europe invitation, the representative of the Macedonian NPM participated in two days workshop in Belgrade. Through the given presentation, the representative acquainted the members of the Georgian National Preventive Mechanism about the NPM activities, the methodology for conducting visits, as well as the monitoring of the implementation of the given recommendations.
   
  The workshop was organized in the scope of the joint program of EU and the Council of Europe named as “Human rights in prisons and other closed institutions in Georgia”, where representatives of the National Preventive Mechanisms of the Republic of Serbia, Chezh Republic and Poland participated. The basic goal of the workshop was to strengthen the capacities of the Georgian NPM, but also to exchange experience and best practices among the bodies who conduct monitoring to places of deprivation of liberty.
  

06.12.2013, Skopje

PROTECTION OF JUVENILES IN POLICE DETENTION

• „We should respect the dignity of the children deprived of liberty as well as to take into consideration the needs in accordance with persons’ age. Specialized trainings should continue as per the standardized minimum rules of the United Nations for a treatment of juveniles, special attention should be paid to police officers who make the first contact with children“. These are some of the conclusions from the workshop “Protection of juveniles in police detention”, organized by the Technical Assistance Information exchange Instrument of the European Commission TAIEX, in cooperation with the Ombudsman which took place in Skopje.
  
  The workshop was open by the Ombudsman Mr. Ixhet Memeti, while as welcome speeches had the representative from the EU Delegation Mr. Jaromír Levíćek, the UNICEF representative dr. Bertrand Desmoulins and Mr. Vladimir Ortakovski, PhD, President of the State Council for Prevention from Children Delinquency.
  
  Ms. Aneta Stancevska, Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and member of the UN subcommittee on prevention of torture spoke about the national legislation in protection of juveniles during detention in police stations, including provision of free legal aid, education and compliance with the standards of the UN Subcommittee on prevention of torture. Ms. Ljiljana Jakovcevska from the State Council for Prevention from Children Delinquency spoke about the role of the council for juvenile delinquency in prevention and protection of the rights of juveniles in conflict with the law, while as about the Polish experiences in respect to the protection of juveniles spoke Mr. Wojciech Sadownik, a representative of the Polish NPM.
  
  The aim of the workshop was through discussions and experiences to contribute towards improving the conditions for detention of juveniles as well as to strengthen their rights.
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  
  

10.12.2013, Skopje

ТHE NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM HELD A LECTURE AT THE FACULTY OF SECURITY

• In honor of the International Human Rights Day, 10 December, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), held a lecture at the Faculty of Security named as “The rights of persons deprived of liberty”. Special attention was paid to the rights of children deprived of liberty, the conditions in the penitentiary-correctional facilities, as well as the need for respect of the rights of persons deprived of liberty.
  
  At this occasion the National Preventive Mechanism acquainted the students with its Annual Report of 2012, the role the Department for prevention of torture has, as well as the given suggestions and recommendations with aim to respect the rights of persons deprived of liberty.

21-22.11.2013, Strasbourg, France

• In organization of the Council of Europe and the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) of the United Kingdom, on 21 and 22 November in Strasbourg, France a conference took place named as “Immigration Detention in Europe:Establishing Common Concerns and Minimum Standards”.
  
  A representative of the Macedonian NPM took participation at this conference. Besides her, 20 other representatives from the NPMs of many European countries also participated along with representatives from the Committee for the prevention of torture of the Council of Europe, Subcommittee on prevention of torture of the United Nations, Association for the prevention of torture and other international organizations.
  
  The presidents of the Committee for the prevention of torture of the Council of Europe and the Subcommittee on prevention of torture of the United Nations had their presentations where a special attention was paid to the access to legal aid of the migrants accommodated in the reception centers, the care for women and other vulnerable groups, health care and safety and social activities.
  
  The representatives of the National Preventive Mechanisms in separate working groups talked about establishing standards that should be fulfilled in terms of the rights and the conditions where the migrants are accommodated. The Conference concluded that a Declaration should be submitted to the European bodies for the need of developing standards of the migration centers that should have the same force as the European prison rules.

29.10.2013, Skopje

THE ROLE OF THE JUDGE IN OVERSEEING THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY

• In organization of the Technical Assistance Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX),  and in cooperation with the Ombudsman a workshop on “The role of the judge in overseeing the rights of persons deprived of liberty” took place where judges and other experts in this field exchanged experience in respect to this question.
  
  „This topic is of particular importance having into account the role that the judges have in the area of respect and protection of the rights of persons deprived of liberty. The European prison rules state that all persons deprived of liberty should be treated with respect, the restrictions should be limited to minimum and in accordance to the legitimate goal that should be achieved“.
  
  This was said by the Ombudsman Mr. Ixhet Memeti during the opening of the workshop where the judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Macedonia Mr. Xhemaili Saiti spoke about the “Respect and Protection of Persons Deprived of Liberty during a Court Procedure”, while as the judge for execution of sanctions Mr. Mile Dimovski from the Primary Court Bitola, spoke about “Judicial supervision of the execution of sanctions for the purpose of exercising the rights of persons deprived of liberty”.
  
  Mr. Mario Felice, a former member of the European Committee for prevention of torture, spoke about the international standards and practice of this body in respect to the role of the judge, while as a comparative overview about the importance of the judicial protection gave Mr. Peter Kastner, a representative of the Ombudsman Office of Austria.

24-25.10.2013, Belgrade

MEETING OF THE BALKAN NETWORK OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS

• „The role of the doctor in conducting preventive visits with aim to protect persons deprived of liberty”, was one of the topics at the two days meeting of the Balkan Network of National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM) held in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia. A representative of the National Preventive Mechanism from the Office of the Macedonian Ombudsman took participation, as well as an external collaborator-psychiatrist from the Association of psychiatrists of the Republic of Macedonia.
  The meeting, organized by the medical group of NPM Network of the South-east Europe, elaborated also the topics related to the multi-disciplinary approach of the NPM work, the standards for medical protection of the places for deprivation of liberty, the role of the medical workers for prevention of torture, and the standards for psychiatric institutions relevant to the work of NPMs.
  The meeting was organized by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Serbia with support of the OSCE Mission, attended by NPM representatives and doctors from Albania, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina who participated in the preventive visits.

Multidisciplinary approach of the National Preventive Mechanism

• Pursuant to article 18 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, the Ombudsman-National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), in the past period included experts with specific professional knowledge within the competences that the Mechanism carries outs in places of deprivation of liberty. In that way the Mechanism secured multi-disciplinary approach during its preventive visits which is one of the recommendations of the Association for Prevention of Torture.
  For that purpose Memorandums for Cooperation are being signed with seven professional associations that as external collaborators in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, social work, defectology, judicial medicine and criminology, have been part and will remain partners in the future, in accordance to the Annual Program for 2013 of the NPM team. Cooperation is agreed with the Macedonian Association of Young Lawyers as an official registered association for providing free legal aid in the country.

01-03. July 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark

• Representative from the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) together with a representative from the Department for International Cooperation trough the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument-TAIEX, conducted a study visit to the Danish NPM for the purpose of exchanging experiences and best practices in  the field of prevention from torture in the places of deprivation of liberty.
  Special focus of the visit was the cooperation with the civil society, thus two meetings were held with representatives of the Danish Institute for Human Rights and the Danish Institute against Torture. Also, a meeting with the Directorate for prisons and probations of the Ministry of Justice took place, followed by a visit to the Copenhagen prison.
  During the study visit a future cooperation in the field of human rights protection between two ombudsman institutions was discussed.

10 May 2013, Skopje

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IN PLACES OF DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY

• Ombudsman-National Preventive Mechanism supported by TAIEX program in cooperation with the Directorate for Personal Data Protection on 10 May 2013 organized  workshop on "Video surveillance in places of deprivation of liberty."
  The Ombudsman, Mr. Ixhet Memei, director of the Directorate for Personal Data Protection, Mr. Dimitar Georgievski, and a representative of the European delegation, Mr. Mafredas Limantas addressed the participant at the workshop.
  At the workshop were presented the findings of the National Preventive Mechanism in the area of video surveillance in places of deprivation of liberty, and the Czech NPM experiences regarding this topic. Also  the international standards for data protection with emphasis on video surveillance in areas of deprivation and regulation for the video surveillance contained in domestic legislation for the protection of personal data were given in details.
  The representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health ahare their experiences and opinions regarding the topic shared the representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health.
  At the end of the workshop  the basic conclusions regarding the provision of the right to privacy in places of deprivation of liberty, respecting the personal integrity of persons deprived, and providing protection and safety of places where persons are deprived of their liberty were defined 
  

25-26.03.2013, Belgrade, Serbia

THE MACEDONIAN NPM REPRESENTATIVE ATTENDED THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS (NPMs) FROM SOUTHEAST EUROPE

• The representative from the National Preventive Mechanism from Macedonia participated at the meeting held on 25 and 26 of March in Belgrade, Serbia where a Declaration for cooperation among the National Preventive Mechanisms from Southeast Europe was adoped. The meeting was held under the auspices of the Ombudsman of Serbia and the Mission of OSCE in Serbia. The National Preventive Mechanisms from Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia attended the meeting.
  By signing a Declaration for cooperation, the present NPMs agreed to improve the existing collaboration in the region of Southeast Europe and to encourage mutual support and creation of conditions for efficient implementation of the mandate deriving from the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
  At the meeting the representative from the National Preventive Mechanism from Macedonia presented the methodology of work and the preparation of the annual report which is an obligation in accordance with the article 23 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
   Besides the regional NPMs, the meeting was attended by representatives from the Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Subcommittee for prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Council of Europe, the Association for prevention of torture, and other relevant international institutions and NGOs that work with the Serbian NPM.
  

19-20.09.2012, Skopje

• As part of the twining project for support of the Macedonian Ombudsman institution implemented by the Ombudsman of the Kingdom of Spain and the French Ombudsman, a working meeting between the representatives of the Macedonian NPM, the Spanish NPM and participant from the French Ombudsman took place in Skopje on 19 and 20 September 2012. At this meeting the Macedonian and the Spanish NPMs exchanged their experiences related to the follow-up visits of places of deprivation of liberty and presented their 2011 annual reports. The Macedonian NPM presented the separate report on the visit to the police station Kavadarci, conducted jointly with the Spanish NPM in April 2012. At this meeting the participants stressed out the importance and the need to further strengthen the mutual cooperation and to carry on joint activities, aimed towards strengthening the effectuation of the NPMs’ mandate in the field of human rights protection.

18-20.09.2012, Paris, France

• One training on the topic: “Mediators and Ombudsmen facing the migration phenomenon”, organized by the Association of the Mediterranean Ombudsmen, took place in the period 18-20 September 2012 in Paris. Representative from the Macedonian NPM participated at this training. The following topics were covered at the training: The possibility for Ombudsmen to rely on Council of Europe and European Court on Human Rights’ standards relating to the migrants protection; Ombudsmen communication: the way to reach migrants and the control by the European Ombudsman of the European Union's external borders agency and its respect for fundamental rights. The participants also discussed the impact the Ombudsmen have on public policies relating to migrants; the situation with the unaccompanied children, as well as application of other international and national standards for migrants protection.

11-15.06.2012 Madrid, Spain

• In the period between 11 and 15 of June 2012, representative of the National Preventive Mechanism took part in the study visit to the Ombudsman of the Kingdom of Spain, organized under the umbrella of the twinning project for strengthening the capacities of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia.
  During the visit the NPM representative met the Spanish National Preventive Mechanism and exchanged experiences regarding the preventive visits to places of deprivation of liberty and jointly visited a juvenile correctional center in Madrid. At the visit the NPMs identified risks that might cause acts of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and issued recommendations for improving the conditions and treatment of persons deprived of their liberty.

12-13.06.2012, Belgrade, Serbia

• Representative from the Macedonian NPM participated at the 9th thematic NPM workshop on: “Irregular migrants, Frontex and the NPMs” that under the auspices of the Council of Europe programme took place in Belgrade, Serbia.
  Representatives from most of the established European NPMs took part at this meeting, during which the discussion developed towards determining the NPMs’ possible role in monitoring the returns of the irregular migrants in the countries of their origin, as well as the NPMs role in monitoring the arrivals of the returned migrants under the re-admission agreements. The representative from the Macedonian Ombudsman as National Preventive Mechanism gave presentation at this meeting.
  

05-07.06.2012, Tirana, Albania

• Representative from the NPM participated at the working meeting between the National Preventive Mechanisms of Albania, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia that took place in Tirana, Republic of Albania, in the period 05-07 June 2012. The meeting was organized within the framework of the Council of Europe’s NPM peer-to-peer project aimed towards strengthening the cooperation and the capacities of the European NPM and was hosted by the Albanian Ombudsman.
  During the first day of the meeting the NPMs exchanged experience regarding their methodologies on visits to psychiatric institutions, while the second day they visited one psychiatric clinic in Tirana and afterwards prepared recommendations for overcoming the identified shortcomings.
  

23-24.04.2012, Skopje and Kavadarci

WORKING MEETING BETWEEN THE MACEDONIAN AND SPANISH NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM

• Within the Twinning project for support of the Ombudsman in which the National Ombudsman of Spain and the Mediator of France are participating on 23nd – 24nd of April a working meeting with Spanish National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) was held. At the meeting the Macedonian and the Spanish NPM has exchanged experiences on preventive visits of places for deprivation of liberty.
  Both teams had visited the Police Station Kavadarci and made common perceptions and recommendations which should improve conditions of detention and arrest. At the same time risks were identified that could lead to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
  

 20-21. 03.2012, Geneva, Switzerland

NPM REPRESENTATIVE PARTICIPATED ON WORKING MEETING IN GENEVA ON WHICH MONITORING OF DEPORTED PERSONS TREATMENT WAS DISCUSSED

• National Preventive Mechanism representative on 20-th and 21-th March attended at the meeting in Geneva, Switzerland organized and supported by the Council of Europe through the Project for establishing an Active National Preventive Mechanisms Network (NPM).
  
  At this meeting the National Preventive Mechanisms attended as well as other international bodies involved in monitoring of risks of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment during illegal migrants deportation. At the workshop experts were included from the European Committee for Prevention of Torture, the Subcommittee for Prevention of Torture, the Association for Prevention of Torture, the European Union representatives and members of the International Organization for Migration.
  
  During the two-day meeting discussions were held and NPM experiences exchanged in the field of preventive monitoring of deportation, the role of physician in the monitoring bodies, usage of coercion means, as well as the EU directives related to this topic.
  

13-15. 02.2012, Skopje

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM HOST OF THE ALBANIAN AND SLOVENIAN NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM TEAMS

• Within the Council of Europe project for the European National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM) capacity development, on 13 - 15 February, NPM team from the Macedonian Ombudsman Office was host of the established and operational NPM teams of the Southeast Europe - Albania and Slovenia.
  At the meeting National Preventive Mechanisms teams shared experiences from their work and had a preventive visit of the Police Station Karposh.

 26.12.2011, Skopje

• Delegation of the Ombudsperson Office and representatives of the civil society of the Republic of Kosovo held a meeting with Mr. Ixhet Memeti, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia and the head of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) and with members of the National Preventive Mechanism.
  The purpose of the visit was introduction of establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism in Macedonia, the process of ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and opening of the special preventive department within the Ombudsman Office.
  Also, the National Prevention Mechanism has presented the Methodology for preventive visits of places of deprivation of liberty and questionnaires for interviewing of persons deprived of liberty.
  

21-22.12.2011, Mavrovo

• "Law and Practice with Refugees" was the theme of the Round table which on 21 and 22 December was held in Mavrovo, organized by the Academy for Judges and Prosecutors and UNHCR Skopje, on which National Preventive Mechanism representative attended. The roundtable participants exchanged experiences in the field of asylum and mixed migration in the Western Balkans, the amendments to the Law on Administrative Disputes and the Higher Administrative Court proceedings in cases of asylum requests, free legal assistance and representation for asylum seekers and court practice of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the rights of asylum seekers.
  The Ombudsman representative had speech and presentation on theme: Responsibilities of the Ombudsman as a National Preventive Mechanism" with special emphasis on the manner of conducting visit of the Center for Asylum Seekers.
  

12.12. 2011, Skopje

• Representatives of the Department for Prevention of Torture had a lecture at the Faculty of Security in Skopje on theme: Preventive Visits as a Tool for Prevention of Torture - National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in the Republic of Macedonia by which was completed the cycle of lectures for students with aim to familiarize them with the new role of the Ombudsman – the National Preventive Mechanism.
  
  Namely, besides the students were introduced the new role of the Ombudsman, they are also acquainted with the state's obligations which arise by ratification of the Facultative Protocol to the Convention against Torture and methodology of work and the way of visits by the National Preventive Mechanism team.
  
  Previously the National Preventive Mechanism held lectures for students at the Law Faculty Justinian the First, the Faculty of Law at the South Eastern Europe University, Faculty of Law at the European University and the FON Faculty of Law.
  

20-25.11. 2011, Warsaw, Poland

• The National Preventive Mechanism had a study visit in Poland. During the visit meetings were completed with representatives of the Polish National Preventive Mechanism on which the methodology of how to perform site visits, preparing of special reports and monitoring of implementation of given recommendations were discussed.
  
  The Macedonian team, along with the Polish National Preventive Mechanism had two unannounced visits – to a police station in Warsaw and to the Center on Juvenile Delinquency. After they exchanged experiences regarding those visits recommendations were established which the Polish National Preventive Mechanism shall submit to the authorities of the visited institutions.

10-11.11.2011, Geneva, Switzerland

• A representative of the National Preventive Mechanism from Macedonian Ombudsman Office attended on the World Forum on the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture: Prevention of torture and support of the dignity - from commitments to action, organized by the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT).
  
  The Forum has gathered together all key actors on the international and national level in the field of prevention of torture from the relevant authorities and experts of the UN through the National Preventive Mechanisms to the representatives of civil society actively engaged in the fight against torture and with aim to mark the fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the Optional protocol, exchange of experiences and joint facing with future challenges.

 20-21.10.2011, Baku, Azerbaijan

• 
• On 20 - 21 October 2011 NPM representative attended on the meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan organized and supported by the Council of Europe through the project for establishing an active network of NPM bodies. At the meeting participants discussed about topic on protection of vulnerable categories of persons in places for deprivation of liberty.

06-07.10.2011, Skopje

• In the frame of the Twinning project for support of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia in which the twinning partners are the Spanish National Ombudsman and the Mediator of France, on 6 - 7 October in Skopje a round table was held on theme: Comparative experience in the field of detention and the Ombudsman role.

02-05.10.2011, Ljubljana, Slovenia

• In the frame of the Council of Europe project for capacity development of Europe's National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM), on 2 - 5 October 2011 in Slovenia a meeting was held of the South-Eastern European established and operating mechanisms, on which representatives of the Albanian, Slovenian and Macedonian NPM attended.

28-30.09.2011, Bitola, Stip and Tetovo

• From 28-th to 30-th September, in organization of the Ombudsman office - Department for Prevention of Torture, in cooperation and with support of the OSCE Mission and the Swedish International Development Agency - SIDA round tables were held in Bitola, Stip and Tetovo on theme: The Ombudsman - National Preventive Mechanism. On the round tables attended representatives from the police stations, departments of Interior, correctional institutions, special institutes and psychiatric hospitals, local government, state universities and civil society.

15-16.06.2011, Tallinn, Estonia

• In June, a National Preventive Mechanism representative participated on a working meeting in Tallinn organized and supported by the Council of Europe through the project for establishing of an active network of NPM bodies. On the workshop in Tallinn was discussed the topic: Collection and Verification of Information during NPM Visits.

09-11.06.2011, Ohrid

• On 09 – 11 June 2011 a Regional Conference was held on theme: The Ombudsman Role in the Fight against Discrimination and Prevention of Torture. The conference was organized by the Macedonian Ombudsman Office with the support of the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

14-15.07.2011, Skopje and Prilep

• In the period of June-July trainings for the National Preventive Mechanism team were carried out supported by the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). Lecturers on these trainings were Mr. Ales Pistons, a former member of the Council of Europe Committee for Prevention of Torture and Mr. Vladimir Ortakov, first Vice President of the Committee for Prevention of Torture. As part of the training one prison and a psychiatric hospital were visited.

22.06.2011, Skopje

• Press conference of the Ombudsman, Mr. Ixhet Memeti who promoted the team which will work on prevention of torture and regular and unannounced visits to all places where persons are deprived of their liberty.