Detention and prevention of torture: Council of Europe Action

🎧 Still have not heard our podcast episode on immigration detention and the CPT?   Last month, we launched an important conversation about immigration detention in Europe and the critical role of the CPT in preventing in-human or degrading treatment inside immigration detention facilities.   If you missed it, now is the perfect time to dive in and understand the work being done by the CPT to upholding dignity in detention!   Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/dYtXs47U   #PreventingTortureinEurope #ImmigrationDetention #CoE_CPT

The Council of Europe antitorture Committee (CPT) publishes the report on its 2023 visit to Malta, together with the response of the Maltese authorities.   Focus of the report:   ◾ Treatment of persons held in prison ◾ Treatment of persons held in police custody ◾ Treatment of persons held in immigration detention centres   In its report, the CPT noted progress but also persistent concerns since earlier visits in 2015 and 2020.    In the prison system, Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF) and the Centre of Residential Restorative Services (CORRs) have seen a shift towards better psychological support and reintegration planning. Most prisoners reported correct treatment by staff and a generally calm environment. However, the CPT did receive a few allegations of staff slapping prisoners, and the occasional rough pushing and kicking of prisoners. In parallel, the conditions and physical state of the prison remain poor.    In police custody, the situation is comparatively more positive than that found in the Committee’s previous visits. Nonetheless, gaps in custody record-keeping, especially during the critical period between arrest and formal detention, pose a risk to detainee rights and undermine transparency. The CPT stresses the need for a comprehensive, continuous custody log from the moment of apprehension right up to release or transfer to detention.   In the immigration detention system, conditions at Safi and Hal Far Initial Reception Centre have improved slightly since the Committee’s previous 2020 visit, at the height of the Covid pandemic. However, the overall regime remains deeply punitive. Further, allegations of staff violence, particularly after an attempted escape in May 2023, were received by the CPT delegation. Concerted action is still required to ensure humane treatment and standards for foreign nationals held in immigration detention.   🔗 Read more about this: https://lnkd.in/dYHEgG3v   📕 Read the report in English: https://lnkd.in/d2BYEJ6p 📄 Read the response: https://lnkd.in/d_6bDzXK   📌 The CPT and Malta: https://lnkd.in/dQvF8Bhm   #PreventingTortureinEurope #Antitorture #Prison #Police #Malta #ImmigrationDetention #CoE_CPT

The CPT's 117th plenary meeting concluded this afternoon.   Held from 30 June to 4 July 2025, members of the Committee convened in Strasbourg to adopt the reports on visits to Georgia (December 2024 and January 2025), Greece (January 2025), Austria (March 2025), Hungary (March-April 2025), Cyprus (April 2025), and Türkiye (April 2025). The reports will be communicated to the national authorities and published as soon as possible.   CPT members also exchanged views on recent visits and reviewed the outcomes of high-level talks held in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece.   In addition, the Committee carried out an exchange of views with the Chair and members of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), during which issues concerning racialised groups, policing and racial profiling, as well as transgender persons and migrants in Europe were discussed. 🔗 Read more about this: https://lnkd.in/d2-GDmTV   #PreventingTortureinEurope #CoE_CPT

Law enforcement officers in Bosnia and Herzegovina who also served as human rights trainers received the prestigious Golden Badge on Police day recognising their exceptional courage, dedication and professionalism. These trainers have been supported and certified through the Council of Europe projects. The Council of Europe was also recognised as one of the Ministry of Interior’s main international partners for its continued support to promoting policing aligned with human rights standards. The chief areas of co-operation for the protection of human rights of persons deprived of liberty over the past few years include joint activities aimed at : ◾ Designing new methodology for conducting police interviews ◾ Developing operational guidance for policing the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association 🔗 Read more about this: https://lnkd.in/daMFiMrU 📌 Read more about the CPDL project: https://lnkd.in/dp62rwvF 📌 Read more about the Horizontal Facility Programme: https://lnkd.in/dyT9fxux

🤝 Psychologists and officers from the Probation Service of Armenia share insights from coaching and mentoring programme (9-11 June 2025, Armenia, under the Project “Further Strengthening the probation service in Armenia”) Aiming at achieving more effective rehabilitation practice, participants enhanced their knowledge on: ◾ Risk and need assessment tool, working alliance and pro-social modelling ◾ Problem solving and cognitive behavioural Interventions 🔗 Read more about activity: https://lnkd.in/dScFA8yr   📌 Read more about Project: https://lnkd.in/drqRwx9G

🤝 The Council of Europe marked the International Day of Healthcare Professionals in Armenia with a 2-day specialised training (20-21 June 2025). Professionals enhanced their understanding of prison healthcare needs and importance of integrating them into national healthcare dialogue advancing both public health and human rights.  Key highlights included: ✅ Healthcare professionals developing practical negotiation skills to improve communication among healthcare workers, patients, and stakeholders ✅ Reinforcing knowledge of medical ethics, labour rights, and occupational safety standards ✅ Identifying steps to harmonize healthcare practices and improve service quality in challenging environments like prisons This initiative demonstrated a strong synergy between various Council of Europe projects and their common goal to promote a more ethical, rights-based, and inclusive healthcare system. 🔗 Read more about it: https://lnkd.in/dFih-g7e 📌 Read more about the Project: https://lnkd.in/dgmFbjYa

"No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" — Article 3, European Convention on Human Rights.   Every day, we work to prevent torture and ill-treatment by monitoring places of detention, setting standards, and cooperating with governments.   Protecting dignity in detention across Europe is at the heart of our work.   #InternationalDayinSupportofVictimsofTorture #StopTorture #CoE_CPT #CoE_CPDL #CoE_PCCP

🔎 Did you know? The CPT carried out its first visit to places of detention back in 1990 in Austria.   📍 Since then, the Committee has conducted 500+ visits across Europe to monitor how people deprived of their liberty are treated — promoting dignity, human rights, and accountability. The President of the CPT, Alan Mitchell, reflects on the evolution of conditions enjoyed by persons deprived of their liberty during these 35 years ⤵️   #AntitortureCommittee #GeneralReport #Activities2024 #CoE_CPT

The Council of Europe antitorture Committee (CPT) publishes the response of the Danish authorities to the report on the Committee’s seventh periodic visit to Denmark (23 May to 3 June 2024).   The CPT report was published on 12 December 2024 under the automatic publication procedure to which Denmark is a signatory.   The focus of the visit was to:   ◾ Examine the treatment and safeguards afforded to persons deprived of their liberty by the police ◾ Examine the treatment and conditions of detention of prisoners ◾ Examine the treatment and conditions of foreign nationals detained pursuant to aliens’ legislation ◾ Examine the treatment and conditions of psychiatric patients   The response of the Danish authorities addresses the recommendations, comments and requests for information formulated by the CPT in its report on the visit.   🔗 Read more about this: https://lnkd.in/dRX-jYNS   📄 Read the response of the Danish authorities: https://lnkd.in/d4Pb-AJJ   📌 Read the CPT report: https://lnkd.in/dedwqpiR #PreventingTortureinEurope #Antitorture #PsychiatricHospitals #Police #Prison #ImmigrationDetention #Denmark #CoE_CPT

🔊 The Council of Europe antitorture Committee (CPT) publishes the report on its 2024 visit to the Netherlands, together with the response of the Dutch authorities.   Focus of the report:   ◾ Measures taken by the Dutch authorities to counter violence amounting to a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in establishments for children (JeugdzorgPlus).   During the visit, most of the children interviewed by the CPT said they were well treated by staff, who intervened rapidly when violence broke out between the children themselves. However, the CPT received several allegations that staff had used excessive force when manually restraining (grabbing and holding) children.     🔗 Read more about this: https://lnkd.in/d2_2YYwD   📕 Read the report in English: https://lnkd.in/dd4anv9F 📄 Read the response: https://lnkd.in/dX2ABisu   📌 The CPT and the Netherlands: https://lnkd.in/dJhXQY4x #PreventingTortureinEurope #Antitorture #TheNetherlands #CoE_CPT