The co-operation and coordination between all the mechanisms conducting monitoring visits and inspections to prisons in Turkey further improved following the first two round table meetings aiming to improve the quality of such visits.
The fruitful and very topical discussions among different prison monitors, proved that such meetings significantly contribute towards better understanding of their respective work and that exchange of experiences among different monitoring mechanisms is beneficial for all. The focus of the second round table was on improving cooperation with CSOs active in this sector aiming to ensure independent monitoring and objective identification of problems related to functioning of the prison system, making it more transparent and humane and preventing human rights violations. As a result, a number of concrete measures were proposed that will contribute to building synergies between all actors with the idea that “coordination and communication is the key to protect the rights of prisoners”.
A total of 114 participants from the Civil Monitoring Boards (CMBs), Ombudsman Institution, Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Inspection Board, National Preventive Mechanism, enforcement judges, public prosecutors, MoJ Board of Controllers and civil society organisation (CSO) representatives benefited from the presentations and discussions on the international standards and best practices regarding efficient prison monitoring.
The two round table meetings were held on 22 October and 12 November 2020 through the KUDO Platform. Following these initial two events, six more round table meeting will be organised within the auspices of the Project “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 Human Rights Trust Fund and Canada.
