Methodology
The Council of Europe’s approach to the protection of human rights in penitentiary facilities is threefold. It is based on the dynamic triangle of "setting international standards ⇒ monitoring them ⇒ ensuring relevant co-operation activities to address shortcomings".
This way, this triangle links together:
- the standards developed by the CoE since 1949 for human rights, rule of law and democracy (recommendations and resolutions);
- the conclusions and recommendations of the CoE's monitoring mechanisms, which single out the areas where improvements are needed, particularly under various international conventions;
- the technical co-operation programmes established largely on the basis of the monitoring conclusions and recommendations in order to assist the beneficiaries in their efforts to apply the standards.