Enhancing the effectiveness of Civil Monitoring Boards in Türkiye in line with European Standards

The Civil Monitoring Boards (CMBs) have been actively involved in the external monitoring of the penitentiary system in the Republic of Türkiye through conducting on-site visits since 2001. The main task of CMBs is to conduct civil monitoring visits to the prisons and produce reports with binding recommendations for the Ministry of Justice. The deficiency of standards within the monitoring process, as well as the inadequate capacities and lack of training opportunities for the members, remained at unsatisfactory level for a long period of time.

The current “learning by doing” system should be replaced by an institutionalized training system. Therefore, there is an urgent need to work on the capacity building of the CMBs, as well as on increasing the quality of the whole process of the selection and training of its members in order to reach the European standards. Only a well-functioning external monitoring mechanism will contribute to a better penal system by decreasing the human rights breaches.

The Project was divided in 4 components:

Strengthening CMBs independence through revision of the applicable legal and regulatory framework in line with the international standards;
Enhancing CMBs efficiency by further developing their monitoring standards and working methodology and tools;
Ensuring sustainable training provision for the CMB members; and
Improving CMBs internal coordination and communication with other external monitoring mechanisms.

This Project was estimated to cover approximately 100 activities to be implemented by 31 May 2022, with an overall budget of 1,600,000 Euros.

Project documentation

Useful information

PROJECT NEWS

Back Gender Mainstreaming Action Plan for the Civil Monitoring Boards Project in Turkey

The Project “Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Civil Monitoring Boards (CMB) in line with the European standards” has developed a gender mainstreaming action plan with the aim to ensure a gender-sensitive perspective in the implementation of the project and the fundamental values and indicators of gender equality.

After the analysis of the project documents developed so far, the plan highlights that the project considerably contributes to promoting gender equality in the penal system. One of the main findings is that the specific needs of female prisoners and the position of the female CMB members have been taken into account and are being addressed through the project implementation.

The plan further provides recommendations for ensuring continuity of the gender-sensitive approach and incorporating the principle of equality in the planned project deliverables and results, in line with the national and international gender equality legislation, Council of Europe Gender Strategy Documents and recommendations.

The Project “Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Civil Monitoring Boards in line with the European Standards” is funded by Sweden, Switzerland, the Republic of Turkey, the Human Rights Trust Fund and Canada.

Ankara, Turkey July 2020