On 15 April 2025, 50 prison staff members attended the launch of the Council of Europe HELP courses on CPT Standards and on Mental Health and Human Rights.

The launch was organised by the Council and Europe and the Romanian Prison Administration. The courses were chosen in the context of the implementation of several judgments of the European Court of Human Rights against Romania, which are currently under the enhanced supervision of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. Of further importance were also the reports of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) published in recent years, as well as the future visits of the Committee planned for 2025.

The event was held at the premises of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University in Iași, Romania. The launch began with introductory remarks from Liviu-George Maha, dean of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University,  Claudiu Silvian Românu, Director General of the Romanian Prison Administration and  Dan Costel Maloș, Director of the Iași Penitenciary. They talked about the importance of cooperation in relation to the promotion of the right of persons deprived of liberty and of ensuring access to adequate training for prison staff.

The day continued with Sebastian Mangrău from the Council of Europe’s Department of Execution of Judgments, who went through relevant case-law on Romania, and emphasised the need to collaborate with the Romanian authorities to address important problems, such as poor conditions of detention and adequate access to medical care, including to psychiatric care.  

Răzvan Horațiu Radu, prosecutor and CPT member, introduced the participants to the activity of the CPT and explained the importance to collaborate and engage into meaningful conversation with CPT representatives during their monitoring visits. Beatrice Gabriela Ioan, member of the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health, professor and forensic doctor, addressed practices related to the involvement of medical professionals in making decisions concerning the postponement and the interruption of the execution of prison sentences.  

During the launch event, the participants also got acquainted with the HELP programme and its e-learning platform, which offers over 50 online courses on human rights. Furthermore, the groups met their HELP tutors. The participants following the HELP course on CPT standards will be led by Ioana Morar, Deputy General Director of the Romanian Prison Administration and Răzvan Horațiu Radu, prosecutor and CPT member.

The participants following the HELP course on Mental Health and Human Rights will be assisted by Alina Barbu, legal expert and psychologist and Gabriel Diaconu, psychiatrist and councillor with the Romanian Ministry of Health. They talked to the participants about their background and interests and presented some insights into the matters to be approached during the course which will be followed online in the following weeks.

The HELP tutors will provide the participants with support and guidance. During the launch event, participants have been registered or instructed on how to register on the dedicated course pages and are now ready to start the tutored course. HELP certificates, issued by the Council of Europe, will be awarded to those who successfully complete the course.

The HELP online course on CPT Standards  includes an introductory module and 5 thematic modules covering a range of topics such as police detention, prison conditions, immigration detention centers, psychiatric institutions, and social care homes. Each module provides practical insights and interactive exercises to reinforce the learning objectives.

The HELP online course on Mental Health and Human Rights aims to increase the knowledge of legal and health professionals and other relevant stakeholders on applicable human rights standards relevant for persons with mental health issues.  It was developed in 2024  by the Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) Programme of the Council of Europe, in close cooperation with the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO). 

These HELP courses explore the different topics in a practical way by using presentations, interactive screens, knowledge tests and reflective exercises, enabling the users to apply the gained knowledge and skills. They are available in self-learning format, having a duration of 10 hours for the first one and 8 hours for the second.

They are available in English and several other languages, with other translations being in progress.  Upon completion, users can generate their electronic Statements of Accomplishment, in proof of their acquired knowledge and skills. 

HELP courses are intended, in the long term, to become an integral part of the overall learning curricula of the national training institutions and/or other competent authorities of the CoE member states and beyond.