On November 18, 2022, the specialists of the Department for the Implementation of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) of the Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights participated in an online introductory training session on the activities of the NPM in Ukraine. 45 participants from different regions of Ukraine joined the event.

Consultants of the Council of Europe project "Supporting implementation of the European standards of human rights standards in Ukraine", George Tugushi and Victor Zaharia conducted a session dedicated to the current state of development of the NPM and discussed with the participants the challenges in the context of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

The discussion at the training session was focused on the following questions: the state of NPM development and development prospects for the next 6 months; activity of regional offices and their involvement in monitoring activities; cooperation with public monitors and their involvement in monitoring activities; places of deprivation of liberty, their current state and peculiarities of conducting monitoring visits.

Artem Volodin, director of the Department for the Implementation of the National Preventive Mechanism, noted that the specialists of the Ombudsperson’s Office carry out monitoring visits in difficult conditions, in front-line zones, including during bombings of the territory of Ukraine. This applies to places of deprivation of liberty, including those where minors are held. Such circumstances present the Office with new challenges and tasks.

A feature of the work of the participants during the training was the discussion of important strategic tasks of the NPM and assessment of needs for the near future in the context of the ongoing aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, internal and external procedures of the NPM, internal and external communication, assessment of training needs and further capacity building of NPM personnel.

During the training, the participants discussed the important strategic tasks of the NPM and conducted needs assessment the nearest future in the context of the ongoing aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The training also covered issues of internal and external NPM procedures, internal and external communication, assessment of training needs and further capacity building of NPM personnel.

The main idea of ​​the National preventive mechanism is to introduce a system of regular, independent visits to any place under the jurisdiction and control of the state, where persons deprived of their liberty are held or may be held, by order of a state body or at its direction, or with his knowledge or tacit consent. These visits are carried out to strengthen, where necessary, the protection of such persons against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

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The Council of Europe project "Supporting Implementation of the European Human Rights Standards in Ukraine" is aimed at supporting the effective implementation of European human rights standards, combating ill-treatment and rehabilitation of torture victims, strengthening the operational capacity of the Ombudsperson’s Office, as well as supporting the protection of the right to privacy and personal data.