Bilateral cooperation

The relevant jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and the findings of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) highlight areas for improvement where member States need to act in order to conform to the Council of Europe’s standards in the field of prisons and as regards the actions of law enforcement officials. Based on the European Prison Rules, the Council of Europe Probation Rules and the European Rules on juvenile offenders, the programme carries out assistance activities. Emphasis is placed on human rights and management issues in prisons, and on combating ill-treatment and impunity as regards law enforcement structures. The Council of Europe is the pan-European platform for discussion of new challenges facing law enforcement and correctional services, which inform standard setting and exchange of good practices.

HIGH JUDICIAL AND PROSECUTORIAL COUNCIL ENDORSES PLATFORM TO ENHANCE SECURITY OF JUDICIAL OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina endorsed the Platform to enhance safety and security of judicial office holders at its session held on 10 November 2022 in Sarajevo. This comprehensive document, developed over the past 12 months, sets out the current safety and...
MULTILATERAL MEETING ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN PRISON AND ITS IMPACT ON PRISON REFORM PRIORITIES
On 3 and 4 November, the Cooperation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Unit held a multilateral meeting in Strasbourg to present and discuss the findings of a research conducted in 2021 in six Council of Europe member states – Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal –...
Platform to enhance Security of Judicial Officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina validated by the professionals
A comprehensive and multi-layered document offering analysis of the current safety and security concerns of the judges and prosecutors dealing with difficult cases, as well as proposals for their improvement was discussed in detail and adopted by the subject Working group of the High Judicial and...
Council of Europe launched a new network of national law enforcement correspondents
The Council of Europe has launched a network of national police correspondents at a conference entitled "Policing in the digital age, how new technologies can help to better police our modern societies", held in Strasbourg on 28 and 29 June 2022. The event brought together senior representatives...
Conference on “Policing in digital age, how new technologies can help better policing our modern societies”
The Cooperation in Police, and Deprivation of Liberty Unit organised an international conference for high-level representatives of police services of Council of Europe member States on: “Policing in digital age, how new technologies can help better policing our modern societies” The conference...
Azerbaijan Council of Europe training session for temporary detention centre officials: “Standards processing and respect for detainee’s rights, for a better detention service”
A group of 35 police officers from the different regions of Azerbaijan, and from the Baku state police detention improved their knowledge on Human Rights principles concerning detention and safeguards against ill-treatment in detention. The topics covered within the 2-day training included the...
Council of Europe working with the Court Police in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Following a request from the Court Police of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Council of Europe, in springtime 2021, to assist and support the increase of security level for the judicial function holders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a pilot project was initiated and launched in...
Online Conference of high-ranking representatives of the police services and other law-enforcement authorities
The MEDICRIME Convention: an international instrument to fight counterfeiting pharmaceutical crime in times of COVID-19 pandemic
The Council of Europe is organising a Conference of High ranking representatives of national police services and other law enforcement authorities to discuss the role of the MEDICRIME Convention in the investigation of offences and how it fills the gaps in the criminal law with the aim of...
Conference on the role of the police in a democratic society
At a conference on the role of the police in a democratic society attended by high-level representatives of European Ministers of the Interior on 20 and 21 October, the Council of Europe proposed to set up its own permanent high-level network of the police forces of the 47 member states. Some 90...
Conference on the role of the Police in a democratic society: Code of police ethics, nearly 20 years
The Council of Europe is organising a Conference of high-level representatives of the Ministers of the Interior to discuss the role of the police and its development in a democratic society. For more information: Webpage - Agenda (ENG / FR)
Workshop on ‘’Interviewing of victim, witness and suspect Professional standards and ethical norms’’
29 police officers from different units for Criminal investigations (Domestic violence, Drugs, Property crime, Juvenile Delinquency) from Skopje, Tetovo, Veles and Kumanovo increased their knowledge on investigative interviewing and ethical norms. Participants benefited from the workshop as it...
Workshop on ‘’Interviewing of victim, witness and suspect - Professional standards and ethical norms’’
30 police officers from the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) investigation services of different Portuguese regions increased their knowledge on investigative interviewing. Participants benefited from the workshop as it addressed gaps in their professional training as well as revisited some...
THE SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF PRISONERS TO REDUCE RE-OFFENDING AFTER RELEASE – CO-OPERATION WITH PROBATION AND OTHER SUPPORT AGENCIES
Senior officials and professionals from Council of Europe member states shared their different experiences and good practices regarding policies and working methods for enhancing the social reintegration of prisoners and discussed ways of introducing new approaches in their systems in line with...
The police, a key player in the fight against domestic violence
Conference of high-ranking representatives of Ministers of Internal Affairs on dealing with Domestic violence
The Council of Europe is organising a Conference of high-level representatives of Ministers of the Interior to discuss issues related to the role of police services in the fight against domestic violence. The police forces play a most important role – and have the great responsibility that comes...
Workshop on “Improving modern interviewing techniques in full compliance with European Human rights standard’’
The training seminar for 30 detective investigators of the main cities of Georgia was an excellent forum to present and analyse all stages of investigation interviewing which is based the highest professional standards of policing. Such interviewing requires a total commitment in protecting and...
Workshop on the Compliance of Investigative Interviewing Techniques with International Human Rights Standards and Best Practice
25 police officers from different investigation services of Malopolska region increased their knowledge on investigative interviewing techniques in what they assess as an important and interesting professional training. The officers embraced the presented concepts and practices in a very positive...
Meeting on the role of probation agencies in the effective implementation of community sanctions and measures
A meeting on the role of probation agency in the effective implementation of community sanctions and measures was held in Athens, on 6 -7 June 2019. The Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights of Greece attended the meeting alongside with policy makers, representatives of the...
Multilateral meeting on Management of Prisoners' Regime
Senior officials and professionals from Council of Europe member States shared their different experiences and good practices regarding management of prisoners’ regime and discussed ways of introducing new approaches in their systems in line with the Council of Europe and in particular the CPT...
Highlights 2018
In 2018, through 18 projects and Council of Europe budgetary programmes, 33 member states benefited from the Criminal Law Cooperation Unit’s assistance. As part of the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI), the Criminal Law Cooperation Unit (CLCU) provides advice and...
Publication of the Council of Europe report on Prisons in Europe from 2005 to 2015
The Council of Europe today published two reports reflecting, firstly, the trends in European prisons from 2005 to 2015 and, secondly, the evolution of foreign offenders in prison and under probation from 2009 to 2015. The report “Prisons in Europe 2005-2015” shows that from 2005 to 2015 the...
Multilateral meeting on Implementation of Community sanctions and measures
The multilateral meeting brought together senior officials and professionals from Council of Europe member states to exchange and promote good practices regarding implementation of community sanctions and measures and to identify ways of introducing new approaches in their systems in line with...
A new publication "A brief introduction to investigative interviewing - A practitioner’s guide" is made available to Law enforcement officers
This Brief Introductory Guide on investigative interviewing aims to give police officers an effective tool and the knowledge and skills needed to apply that tool in the course of their investigations. It is informed by modern scientific research as to what works and by the real-life experiences...
Training of police officers in Tirana (Albania) on “Police Interaction with Citizens in daily police work and Community Engagement, and on Delivering Professional Standards”
The training seminar for 26 high ranking police officers (commissioners and sub-commissioners) has succeeded in developing and improving further relations, engagement and awareness on police in dealing with citizens and communities in their daily work. The two Council of Europe experts shared...
Multilateral conference on importance of training of prison staff to fight against radicalisation and violent extremism in prison
multilateral conference gathered representatives of prison authorities and prison practitioners as well as trainers of prison staff from some 20 Council of Europe Member States, who agreed on the need to further develop training for prison staff on radicalisation, specifically on identification...
REGIONAL CONFERENCE on sharing experiences on deradicalisation, management and rehabilitation of prisoners in Western Balkans
The Regional Conference gathered prison authorities and prison practitioners from the Western Balkans, who agreed on the need to further enhance collaboration among the prison systems in the region. The conference initiated an exchange of good practices on addressing the issue of radicalisation...
Dealing with radicalisation and terrorists acting alone
On 12 and 13 June, the high ranking representatives of 33 CoE Member States, and some Observer States and a number of eminent experts discussed how to improve cooperation and exchange of information, how consolidate the legal arsenal, prevent, detect and fight against radicalisation, including on...
Multilateral meeting on management of prisonners’ risks and needs to avoid re-offending
The multilateral meeting brought together senior officials and professionals from all Council of Europe member states to exchange and promote good practices regarding management of prisoners’ risk and needs and to identify ways of introducing new approaches in their systems in line with the...
Training on “Respecting fundamental rights and freedoms in the context of strengthening the fight against terrorism”
A group of 26 officers (Lieutenant to Colonel) from the Police Headquarters, the General department on combating organized crime, Educational Complex of Police, Line division of “Zvartnots” airport and Department of Criminal Forensics of police of the Republic of Armenia, increased their...
Multilateral meeting on organisation and management of prison health care
The multilateral meeting brought together representatives of prison administrations and other institutions in charge of prison health care from all Council of Europe member states to exchange experience and good practices and to identify best ways of ensuring equivalence of health care in prison...
Seminar on the policing of public assemblies – Yerevan (Armenia) 4 - 5 October
A group of 25 officers from the Educational Complex of Police, Department of Public Order Protection and provincial units of Police of the Republic of Armenia increased their knowledge on the democratic approaches to the overall management of public demonstrations with particular reference to...
