Monitoring places of detention is an area where NHRIs may experience the most difficulty in balancing their traditional protective mandate with a preventive approach. This might be particularly challenging for NHRIs that have been designated as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). The system of regular, unannounced, preventive visits established under the Optional Protocol obviously differs significantly in its objectives, scope and methodology from investigative visits carried out by NHRIs to document and respond to individual complaints. However, the Optional Protocol includes certain guarantees and powers that can help resolve this challenge. When an NHRI has been designated as a national preventive mechanism under the Optional Protocol, its role and functions as NPM are also assessed by the GANHRI Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) as part of the Paris Principles accreditation process. In recent years, a greater focus has been placed on the important role of NHRIs in preventing human rights violations, in addition to their crucial role in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Nairobi Declaration, adopted during the Ninth International Conference of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in October 2008, addresses the role of NHRIs in the administration of justice and encourages their involvement in torture prevention. Indeed, several provisions of the Nairobi Declaration are directly relevant for torture prevention, such as providing training for law enforcement and correctional staff; conducting unannounced visits to police stations and places of detention; reviewing standards and procedures; and promoting ratification of the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol. The annual review of the implementation of Nairobi Declaration during GANHRI meetings provides an additional motivation for NHRIs to be more actively involved in the prevention of torture. Subsequent declarations adopted during GANHRI international conferences also include provisions that are relevant for torture prevention. In the Marrakech Declaration, adopted in October 2018, NHRIs committed to monitor places of detention including through preventive visits. Furthermore, the Amman Declaration and Plan of Action, adopted in November 2012, addresses the role of NHRIs in promoting gender equality, including by preventing all forms of gender-based violence in places of detention, through trainings, inquiries, law and policy reform, and promotion of the implementation of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules). The annual review of the implementation of the declarations adopted during GANHRI meetings provide an additional motivation for NHRIs to be more actively involved in the prevention of torture. The UN Human Rights Council, in its 2018 resolution on NHRIs,3 reaffirmed, among others, the key role of NHRIs in contributing to the prevention of human rights violations and abuses and encouraged them to continue undertaking a number of actions that are also relevant for torture prevention, including promotion of ratification and implementation of international human rights treaties, promotion of legal, policy and procedural reforms, training, education, public awareness and advocacy. 3 UN Human Rights Council, Resolution 39/17, National Human Rights Institutions, UN Doc. A/HRC/RES/39/17, 8 October 2018. 7