International cooperation

The Parliamentary Ombud cooperates with several international players in connection with its preventive work, particularly with the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT). The SPT can visit all places of detention in the states that have ratified the UN’s Optional Protocol. The visits can be announced or unannounced. The SPT’s mandate also includes providing advice and guidance to the national preventive mechanisms. The Parliamentary Ombud submits annual reports on its preventive activities to the UN Subcommittee.

A separate Nordic network for prevention has been established under the OPCAT mandate. The objective is to facilitate increased cooperation, learning and exchange of information between the Nordic countries.

The Parliamentary Ombud’s National Preventive Mechanism also engages in dialogue with other international organisations with expertise on the prevention of torture, such as the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).