From 2 to 4 October 2004, at the invitation of the Ombudsman of North Macedonia (National Ombudsman) members of the Slovenian National Preventive Mechanism paid a working visit to the NPM of North Macedonia, which like in Slovenia, operates under the auspices of their Ombudsman.

The main purpose of the visit was the exchange of practical experiences and challenges in conducting preventive visits to closed institutions. The first day of the study visit was thus dedicated to getting to know the work of the NPM of Macedonia, the second day to a visit to one of the psychiatric hospitals, and the third day to a visit to a juvenile correctional facility.

Such a form of cooperation and exchange of experience in the implementation of preventive visits within the framework of the SEE NPM Network has already proven to be very useful in the past. It is an excellent opportunity to exchange good practices in performing the duties and powers of the NPM, and at the same time to learn about the way incarcerated persons are treated in other countries and, within this framework, also the legal framework that regulates deprivation of liberty elsewhere.