At the Press Club, organized by RCTV "Memoria", Ms. Vacarciuc spoke about the progress made in the creation under the administration of the Ombudsman Institution of the Council for the Prevention of Torture as National Preventive Mechanism, under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other punishments or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_03TlXYB0k&feature=youtu.be).

Olga Vacariuc reminded that with the adoption of Law 52, the previous NPM ceased to exist(a new one has not been set so far because of the delay in adoption of the Law on the Regulation of the organization and functioning of the People's Advocate Office).

Currently, following consultations with civil society, a draft Council regulation to prevent torture was prepared.

Olga Vacariuc also informed that the draft regulation was submitted for endorsement to the parliamentary committee for human rights and interethnic relations and that shortly after it will be signed by the Ombudsman, a contest for selecting members will be announced.

The official also said that despite the cessation of operation of the NPM, preventing and monitoring activities of the prisons and penitentiaries were carried out by employees of the Ombudsman Institution. During 2015, the representatives of our office conducted 68 visits in institutions from the subordination of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family. In the first months of 2016 were carried out 15 visits to detention institutions.

Olga Vacariuc underlined that the employees of the institution are willing to share their positive experience with the new Board members in preventing and combating torture, noting that the work in this regard has been appreciated by experts of the European Court for Human Rights, which in the past 3-4 years, in four cases on Article 3 of the ECHR made reference to the annual reports of the Ombudsman Institution.

Also, it was announced that the Office of the Ombudsman has already created a specialized structural subdivision, which will provide informational and methodological assistance necessary for the effective exercise of the Council for the Prevention of Torture.

Olga Vacariuc stressed the importance of creating the NPM in a new formula, expressing hope that it will be functional and up to date, as to meet the needs and demands of our country and those of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention. Also, the Ombudsman's Institution proposes the creation of mechanisms of cooperation in this sector, including with the media, whose role is crucial in combating and preventing torture and ill-treatment.