The Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina and the Deputy Ombudsman Ivan Šelih attended in Vienna on 7 June 2022, at the invitation of the Austrian national human rights institution, a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Austrian National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. In accordance with the Austrian regulations, the duties of the Ombudsman have been performed since their appointment on 1 June 2019 by Werner Amon, Bernhard Achitz and Walter Rosenkranz, with whom the Slovenian national human rights institution has enjoyed excellent cooperation. Once again, Ombudsman Svetina and the hosts noted their commitment to further exchange of experience and, in order to increase the visibility of the institutions they run, called for the Ombudsman institutions in Europe to be better integrated.
 
In accordance with the powers bestowed by the Federal Constitution, the Austrian institute of the Ombudsman deals with complaints from the public and supervises the functioning of the rule of law and the principles of democracy in the entire Austrian public administration. Like the Slovenian Ombudsman, it also performs the tasks of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). Since 1 June 2012, together with the federal and six regional commissions, it has been investigating in the field the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in a bid to improve their protection from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.  While respecting legal norms, the NPM makes further recommendations to the relevant authorities regarding how to improve the situation and treatment of the mentioned persons and may also make proposals or comment on existing or proposed laws.

The 10th anniversary ceremony in Hofburg was opened with a welcome address by the current presiding Ombudsman Walter Rosenkranz, and the participants were also greeted by Chris Field - the president of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), the organisation for which Ombudsman Svetina is one of the directors general for Europe. This was followed by a video address by the Austrian Federal President and other high-profile guests, while the event ended with a round table as part of which the Austrian ombudsmen discussed the importance of human rights in their work with representatives of institutions supervised by the NPM.

Ombudsman Svetina and Deputy Shelih then attended a short ceremony at the headquarters of the International Ombudsman Institute, also located in Vienna, that was intended to formally recognise the erstwhile president Peter Tyndall, a former ombudsman from Ireland, for his years-long service.