On 12-13 January 2015, Council of Europe (CoE) is training selected staff members -future trainers - of the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Corrections in the principles and international standards on prevention of torture and ill-treatment in prisons and temporary detention isolators.

An international expert of the CoE is facilitating the learning of the future trainers on the Standards of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). Among other topics, the expert will introduce participants to the role and obligations of the various categories of prison and detention facility staff in implementing safeguards against torture and ill-treatment.

CoE promotes the prohibition of any form of torture and ill-treatment and supports national authorities in reform steps aiming at eliminating this phenomenon. Within these efforts, special attention is paid to the competences and professionalism of penitentiary and police personnel as they are key element of any successful reforms. Prior to this training, the future trainers completed a course on the right to life and prohibition of torture as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and reflected in the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights. By the end of the training cycle, future trainers will be ready to cascade their knowledge to their colleagues working in prisons and temporary detention isolators.

The training is organised in the framework of the European Union/CoE Joint Programme “Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions”. The programme was launched in July 2013 with the aim to strengthen respect of human rights and improve access to healthcare for persons deprived of their liberty.