HF II North Macedonia - Enhancing penitentiary system External Oversight Mechanism

As part of the co-operation framework co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, known as the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey, phase II (Horizontal Facility II), the Council of Europe implemented the Action “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the External Oversight Mechanism in North Macedonia”, in close cooperation and partnership with the Ministry of Justice (Directorate for Execution of Sanctions), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Ombudsman’s Office. The Action also involved a wide group of other national stakeholders, including prominent civil society organisations active in the area of protection and promotion of human rights.

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.

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Back North Macedonia’s prison doctors and medical staff enhanced their knowledge on preventing and treating transmissible diseases

@ Council of Europe

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, former CoE Committee for the Prevention of Torture member and a local infectiologist.

Frequent pathogenies and transmission, the potential treatment and preventions measures were at the key focus of the discussion, while the participants advanced their knowledge on international guidelines and comparative experience of treatment. The medical staff analysed case studies and practical examples, exchanging experience on management. Given that this training is one of the very few on transmissible diseases, it is expected to have a positive reflection on the protection of the rights of incarcerated persons, particularly on Tuberculosis and Hepatitis.

The discussions raised questions on the protection of the medical staff, as well as improving the material conditions, both of which are major preventive factors.

This activity was organised under the action on “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the External Oversight Mechanism in North Macedonia”, which is a part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022".

Skopje, North Macedonia 20-21 April 2022