HF II North Macedonia - Enhancing penitentiary system External Oversight Mechanism
The main aim of the Action was to contribute to a safer and more humane society that respects and protects the rights of detained and sentenced persons in line with the Council of Europe standards in the area of penitentiary and law enforcement.
The key Conventions for this Action were the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), as well as the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
The duration of the project was set at 36 months and it was completed by 31 December 2022, with an overall budget of 1,050,000 Euros.
Project documentation
- Work plan (January - March 2022)
- Work plan (October - December 2021)
- Work plan (July - September 2021)
- Work plan (April - June 2021)
- Work plan (January - March 2021)
- Work plan (October - December 2020)
- Work plan (July - September 2020)
- Work plan (April - June 2020)
- Work plan (January - March 2020)
- Work plan (September - December 2019)
Useful information
Salary increase of 30% for the prisons’ medical staff in North Macedonia
The medical staff working in North Macedonia’s prisons now receive 30% higher salaries, as a result of the recently introduced hazard duty pay, agreed by the Ministry of Health and respective trade union at the end of 2022. This major change follows the legislative analysis developed by the...
North Macedonia’s medical and other prison staff trained on mental healthcare provision
Eight doctors and medical personnel, alongside with ten prison officers working in six penitentiary institutions in North Macedonia enhanced their knowledge on mental healthcare management in prisons. This two-day session took place on 16-17 November 2022 in Skopje – the first ever such training...
The first review of the implementation of North Macedonia’s Penitentiary Strategy shows greater focus is needed on improving material conditions and healthcare in prisons
Fifteen months after its adoption by the Government, the implementation of the National Strategy on the Development of the Penitentiary System in North Macedonia (2021-25) was reviewed by a dedicated working group, composed of senior representatives from the Directorate for the Execution of...
Round Table on further improving the efficiency of the External Oversight Mechanism in North Macedonia
Representatives of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Ombudsman office and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior in charge of internal control over the police met on 2 November 2022 in Skopje, to discuss their cooperation and how to increase the efficiency of the External Oversight...
The component on radicalisation in prisons completes with a piloting and strengthened inter-institutional coordination in North Macedonia
The Council of Europe activities that supported the national authorities in enhancing their capacities in addressing radicalisation in prisons and managing violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) in North Macedonia were completed this week. Namely, on 20-21 September 2022, the multi-disciplinary teams...
7th Steering Committee of the “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the external oversight mechanism in North Macedonia”
The members of the Steering Committee of the Action “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the external oversight mechanism in North Macedonia”, noted some positive changes during the meeting on 8 July in Skopje. Namely, at its seventh regular meeting, the Committee reviewed the...
Delegation from North Macedonia gets acquainted with the healthcare provision within the Spanish penitentiary system
A delegation from North Macedonia, consisting of prison doctors, senior officials of the Ministry of Health, the Head and representatives of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions (DES), benefitted from a study visit to Madrid, carried out in the period from 31 May to 2 June 2022. The...
Multi-disciplinary teams in prisons in North Macedonia prepared for the piloting of the individual treatment programme on radicalisation
18 members of the multi-disciplinary prison teams (MDT) exchanged experience, know-how and challenges on 4-5 May 2022 in Skopje, in preparation for the final stage of piloting the individual programme on radicalisation in prisons. The participants included members of prison police and...
North Macedonia’s prison doctors and medical staff enhanced their knowledge on preventing and treating transmissible diseases
Twelve doctors and medical staff covering nine penitentiary institutions in North Macedonia enhanced their knowledge on preventing and treating transmissible diseases, following the training that took place on 20-21 April 2022 in Skopje. The training was delivered by one international consultant,...
Stakeholders discussed healthcare in North Macedonia’s prisons, agreed on future steps
The current challenges of the provision of healthcare in prisons, as well as upcoming activities on addressing them were discussed by all relevant stakeholders in Mavrovo on 21-22 March 2022. The coordination meeting was attended by governors of all prisons and the management of the Directorate...
Prison governors and prosecutors discussed on the functioning of the External Oversight Mechanism in North Macedonia
Representatives of prison management, including 11 prison governors from across the country, met with representatives of the External Oversight Mechanism (EOM) - prosecutors and Ombudsman office staff, in Skopje on 17 March 2022. Their discussion was focused on their respective roles in...
Prosecutors and judges discussed the challenges faced by the External Oversight Mechanism in North Macedonia’s court procedures
Prosecutors and judges from North Macedonia met on 3 March 2022 to discuss the challenges faced by the External Oversight Mechanism (EOM) in court procedure. Three prosecutors, a judge of the Skopje Criminal Court, one judge of the Supreme Court and former ECtHR judge, a prominent professor and...
Public Prosecutor’s Office on Fighting Organized Crime and Corruption receives technical equipment to support its role in the External Oversight Mechanism
Technical equipment in value of over 24,000 EUR was donated today to the Unit for prosecuting crimes perpetrated by persons with police authority and members of the Prison Police, part of the Public Prosecutor’s Office on Fighting Organized Crime and Corruption in North Macedonia. Prosecutor...
Prison and probation staff in North Macedonia further enhance their knowledge on addressing radicalisation
Prison staff and probation officers from across North Macedonia further enhanced their knowledge on addressing radicalisation in prisons, through their participation at cascade training sessions, held from 23 to 25 February 2022. The three 1-day sessions were attended in total by 29 prison police...
European Prison Rules
CPDL Highlights
