On November 18-20, 2012, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Valeriya Lutkovska paid a working visit to Washington wherein she met with Deputy Assistant Secretaries of State T.Melia and D.Russell, Regional Director, Eurasia, the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training of the Criminal Division of the US Department of Justice С.Newcomber, staff of the Congress’s Commission on Security and Cooperation (U.S. Helsinki Commission), and Freedom House President D.Kramer.

During the visit V.Lutkovska informed of a new structure and general principles of an Ombudsman Office as an independent state authority, including the creation of an institution of Commissioner for Human Rights’ representatives on particular aspects of human rights as well as of the establishment of an Advisory Council to the Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights headed by a famous human rights activist Ye.Zakharov and consisting of members of NGOs, human rights organizations, trade unions and mass media.

V.Lutkovska also elaborated on a national torture preventive mechanism and involvement of public representatives in monitoring of observance of human rights in places of detention. The above mechanism was set up within the Ombudsman Office in accordance with Ukraine’s obligations under an Optional protocol to the Convention against tortures and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.