What are the key budget and financial considerations for a multiple body NPM?

Article 18(3) requires NPMs to be given adequate funding. While an existing institution may already be responsible in some way for monitoring a certain place or types of places of detention the designation of that institution as a NPM should not be treated as continuing business as usual. Being part of the NPM is a fundamentally different role. This means a larger budget will be needed to ensure fulfillment of the new role. A new institution will also need to be given adequate funding.

The multiple bodies of a NPM may be funded in different ways. Thought needs to be given to ensuring adequate funding for all the institutions through various funding mechanisms as well as to adequate funding for the NPM as a whole. This is a particular challenge faced by multiple body NPMs. Some institutions may receive more funding than others for their OPCAT role leading to a discrepancy between the ability of institutions to carry out their NPM mandate. Funding must be sufficient to allow each institution to monitor the places of detention within its mandate, and to allow the coordination body to carry out its role.

While institutions may be funded separately, funding for the NPM as a whole needs to be considered.  Multiple body NPMs undertake joint work, for example producing joint reports on thematic issues, undertaking joint visits, and attending joint training. Funding for joint work may be through each separate institution of the NPM, through funding for the NPM as a whole, or through funding for the coordinating body.