On 29 and 30 October 2024, the Deputy Ombudswoman, Mr. Saša Rajić, together with NPM members Ms. Anica Tomšić and Mr. Damir Dukić, advisors to the Ombudswoman, and Dr. Ana Magerle, an external associate in the field of psychiatry, organized a joint visit to two psychiatric institutions with the delegation of the Slovenian NPM, which included the Deputy Ombudsman, Mr. Ivan Šelih, and NPM members Ms. Ana Polutnik and Mr. Jure Markič.
On the first day of the study visit of the Slovenian NPM delegation, we visited the Institute for Forensic Psychiatry at the Dr. Ivan Barbot Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Popovača, where we toured the forensic wards and learned about the mode of operation, security conditions, and occupational therapy for forensic patients. During the visit, in addition to speaking with patients deprived of liberty and staff, there was an exchange of experiences between the two NPMs regarding preventive visits to psychiatric institutions.
On the second day, we carried out an unannounced visit to the psychiatric ward of the General Hospital in Bjelovar, in accordance with the mandate of the National Preventive Mechanism held by the Ombudswoman. During the NPM visit, we presented to our Slovenian colleagues the work methodology of the NPM visits to psychiatric institutions and the cooperation with the bodies to whom we address our recommendations.