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

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Back Initiating the development of training curricula and materials for prison monitors in Turkey

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A working group (WG) composed of representatives of the Civil Monitoring Boards (CMBs), Directorate General for Prisons and Detention Houses (DGPDH), academics from the selected universities, Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Inspection Board, National Preventive Mechanism, enforcement judge and DGPDH controllers, provided input to the revised CMB’s Manual. This was the first WG meeting on developing training curricula and materials for the CMB members, and it was marked by active participation and topical discussion of all its members.

This meeting, which was organised online on 29 April 2021, marks the beginning of the process, during which the WG will have active role in both developing the training materials and delivering the cascade training sessions in different regions across Turkey. It is expected that the trainings will further improve the quality of the civil monitoring system and enhance the capacity, knowledge, and skills of CMB members on prison monitoring, aligning it with best European practices.

The CMBs’ training and capacity-building has already started with the development of the digital platform and adaptation of the European Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) course on the standards set by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). Additionally, following a transparent procedure, 8 (eight) universities across Turkey were selected which will ensure sustainable training provision for the CMBs. Accordingly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on setting-up regional training capacities has been signed between the DGPDH and these universities.

The meeting was held within the Project entitled “Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Civil Monitoring Boards in Turkey in line with the European Standards”, funded by Sweden, Switzerland, the Republic of Turkey, the Human Rights Trust Fund of the Council of Europe and Canada.

Turkey 30 April 2021