The 31st Council of Europe Annual Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services was held at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, in Valletta, Malta on 3 and 4 June 2026, under the title “Persons with Specific Needs and Vulnerabilities”.  It was co-organised with the Correctional Services Agency of Malta.

The Conference was held in plenary sessions and in four workshops dedicated to the following themes: Foreign nationals; Older persons; Women; and Co‑operation between prison and probation services.

This event brought together the Directors General of the Council of Europe member and observer states as well as by Representatives of the United Nations, the European Union, the Confederation of European Probation (CEP), the International Centre for Prison Studies, Penal Reform International (PRI), the European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris), the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) and the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ). It was also attended by renowned researchers and professionals. More than 150 participants have taken part in the previous edition. 

The event was open to invited participants only.

 Family photo


  Documents

 Speeches and presentations

Opening session

Moderated by Ms Louise Riondel, Secretary to the Conference 

Welcome addresses

Keynote speech on Maltese penitentiary system

Legal instruments and activities of the Council of Europe

Moderated by Mr Keith Demicoli

Speakers:

Setting the scene

Moderated by Mr Keith Demicoli

Speakers:

  • Mr Hans Wolff, Head of Division of Prison Health and President of the Clinical Ethics Committee at the Geneva University Hospitals, President of the Conference of Swiss Prison Doctors
  • Ms Lígia Rebelo, Prison Governor, Portugal
  • Ms Olivia Rope, Executive Director, Penal Reform International
  • Ms Liliana Lupșica, Probation Counsellor, Romania
  • Mr Edoardo Cocco, Graduate Assistant, School of Criminal Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Workshops

Workshop A: Foreign nationals

Moderated by Mr Michael Sorger and Mr Frédéric Hankus

Speakers:

Workshop B: Women

Moderated by Ms Carla Ciavarella and Ms Danijela Mrhar Prelić

Speakers:

  • Ms Eleonora Di Benedetto, Vice President, the Severino Foundation
  • Ms Olivia Rope, Executive Director, Penal Reform International

Workshop C: Older persons

Moderated by Ms Kim Thornden-Edwards and Ms Aleksandra Deanoska-Trendafilova  

Speakers:

  • Mr Aleksandar Koviloski, Counsellor in the Sector for Rehabilitation, North Macedonia
  • Mr Rory McErlean, Policy lead for Prisoner Cohorts, Ministry of Justice, United Kingdom

Workshop D: Cooperation between prison and probation services

Moderated by Ms Iuliana-Elena Cărbunaru and Ms Caron McCaffrey

Speakers:

  • Mr Anthony Breen, Team Lead, Tiglin Challenge Men’s Rehabiliation Centre, Ireland
  • Mr Rait Kuuse, Deputy Secretary General for Prisons, Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs, Estonia
  • Ms Donna Creaven, Director of Corporate Services, ICT & Governance, Irish Prison Service, Ireland

Lived experience

Moderated by Mr Keith Demicoli

Looking ahead

Moderated by Mr Keith Demicoli

Speakers:

  • Mr Gurgen Afrikyan, Head of the Probation Service, Armenia
  • Mr Denis Perše, Director General, Prison Administration, Slovenia
  • Ms Beverley Wall, Director General for Northern Ireland Prison Service, United Kingdom

Closing session

Moderated by Ms Louise Riondel, Secretary to the Conference 

Conclusions

Closing addresses

 Media Gallery