Organised by the Pompidou Group in co-operation with the Ministry of Justice and Public Order of Cyprus, the Cyprus National Addictions Authority and the Cyprus Prisons Department
Opening statement by Mr Rafael Benitez, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment
Hello everyone,
I am pleased to address you today for the opening of the 5th Plenary Meeting of the Pompidou Group’s Cooperation Group, 'Developing Comprehensive Drug Treatment Systems in Prison in South-East Europe' (PRISEE).
Firstly, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the authorities of Cyprus for hosting this important meeting. Your unwavering commitment to advancing health, justice, and human rights within criminal justice settings provides us with further opportunities to extend our collaboration and transform our shared values into concrete actions.
It has been a year since I took up my position as Director of Health and Environment, which reunites several Council of Europe sectors including the Pompidou Group and reflects a firm conviction on the need to work transversally; in this case both with the sectors of health and social rights.
Our shared mission is to advance the protection of health as a cornerstone of our human rights framework. This principle is especially urgent in prison environments, where people’s vulnerability is aggravated by their deprivation of liberty. Ensuring access to effective and human rights-based drug treatment in prisons is not only a public health priority but a matter of upholding human dignity and justice.
A crucial milestone was reached in 2024 with the adoption of the “Guidance for Aligning Drug and Addiction Policies with Human Rights” at the 95th meeting of the Permanent Correspondents of the Pompidou Group. These guidelines establish practical standards to help national authorities align drug and addiction policies with human rights, with special attention to the needs of vulnerable groups, including those who are incarcerated.
The Guidance emphasizes the need to integrate human dignity, health, and safety into every aspect of drug policy, from legislation to design, implementation, and evaluation. It highlights the responsibility of governments, policymakers, institutions, and professionals in ensuring that drug-related responses promote the rights and well-being of individuals.
The work does not stop here. The document serves as the basis for developing recommendations for member states to integrate human rights into drug and addiction policies, which will be adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. This will give even greater prominence to the health protection of marginalized groups, such as people with substance use disorders who are in contact with the criminal justice system.
The PRISEE group, which brings together policymakers and practitioners from 14 countries in East and South-East Europe, is a prime example of the kind of regional cooperation needed to implement these commitments effectively. By sharing expertise, good practices founded on scientific evidence, and challenges, we can build comprehensive drug treatment systems in prisons that respect human rights, improve health outcomes, and foster rehabilitation and social reintegration.
As you meet today in the beautiful island of Cyprus birthplace of Aphrodite, let us renew our collective dedication to the protection of health, reinforce our bonds and cooperation, and commit to developing and strengthening policies and practices that respect human dignity, advance social justice, and protect the most vulnerable among us.
Together, through the continued efforts of the Pompidou Group, the Council of Europe, and all of you here, we can make meaningful progress in creating drug treatment initiatives that are humane, effective, and aligned with the highest human rights standards.
Thank you for your attention and your dedication and I wish you a very successful meeting.