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.

Project documentation

Useful information

PROJECT NEWS

Back Support to the prison system of North Macedonia to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

In response to the emergency of COVID-19 crisis and to the need of providing urgent support to inmates and prison staff, on 11 May 2020 a total of 30 distance thermometers were handed over to the Directorate for Execution of Sanctions, while a second delivery of 850 pieces of disinfecting agents and 5000 gloves is expected by the end of May 2020.

This donation aims at supporting the commitment of the Ministry of Justice and the national Prison administration to adhere to the CPT statement of principles, issued on 20 March 2020, for the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, in accordance with the World Health Organization guidelines. It will assist authorities to improve the protection of human rights and the living conditions of inmates in light of the COVID-19 crisis.

This donation was delivered within the scope of the Action “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the external oversight mechanism in North Macedonia”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe within the second phase of the “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey” and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Skopje 11 May 2020