A number of stakeholders provided their feedback to the draft amendments on the legislation regulating the work of the civil monitoring boards (CMBs) in an online Round Table (RT) held on 25 February 2021.
The comprehensive proposal on amending the CMBs’ legislative framework will increase their effectiveness and make the selection of members of CMBs transparent and more accessible. The draft proposes some further amendments on the mandate of the CMBs, gender quota, consultations with civil society, publication of the reports, internal coordination, and training of the CMBs, as well as a follow-up procedure to the prison visits. The RT marks the completion of process of alignment of legislation governing the mandate and role of the CMBs with Council of Europe and other international standards, which has started in February 2020.
The participants agreed that the expected adoption of the amended legal framework by the Turkish authorities will be a significant step forward, leading to further strengthening CMBs’ independence and enhancing the impact of their work. The Directorate General for Prisons and Detention Houses (DGPDH) representative confirmed that they are looking forward to a prompt revision of the legal framework.
A total of 55 participants attended the Round Table, representing the CMBs, the DGPDH, civil society organisations, the Ombudsman Institution, the Ministry of Justice Inspection Board and Board of Controllers, the National Preventive Mechanism, enforcement judges, public prosecutors, academia, as well as the project donors.
The meeting was held within the Project entitled “Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Civil Monitoring Boards in Turkey in line with the European Standards” funded by Sweden, Switzerland, the Republic of Turkey, the Council of Europe Human Rights Trust Fund and Canada, and implemented by the Council of Europe.