On 29 November 2024, the project “Technical Support for More Effective and Resilient National Preventive Mechanisms” was officially launched in Cyprus, presenting a significant opportunity to strengthen the country’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The initiative aims to address capacity gaps in monitoring the rights of individuals in places of detention, including immigration detention centres, psychiatric institutions, and social care homes.
The launch event convened over 80 stakeholders, including policymakers, representatives from state institutions and civil society, international experts, and a representative of the European Commission. The participants engaged in discussions to foster collaboration and share promising practices to improve the effectiveness of NPMs.
In her opening remarks Maria Stylianou-Lottides, Head of Cyprus National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) and the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights (Ombudsman) emphasised the importance of finding common ground in addressing the needs and rights of people on remand. She also highlighted that efforts were aimed at equipping stakeholders with the right tools to ensure respect for human dignity, particularly in the context of psychiatric hospitals. When concluding Ms Stylianou-Lottides stressed that it was “high time to have specific actions and look forward to common methods," underscoring the urgency of collaborative and effective approaches.
Kjartan Björnsson, Deputy Director for Support to Member States reforms - Head Governance and Public Administration Unit, Directorate General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM), European Commission stressed the cooperation history of DG REFORM with the Council of Europe as implementing partner for technical support, and highlighted that “the Council of Europe has a long - standing expertise in the field of torture prevention through the Council of Europe’s Committee for Prevention of Torture, and solid experience in supporting NPM’s in Europe and beyond”. He underlined the EU’s commitment to supporting Cyprus in strengthening its mechanisms to ensure compliance with its obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT). Mr Björnsson concluded by saying that “ultimately, this project will be a reference to exchange and share best practices with other EU countries in the prevention of torture and ill-treatment. The success of this project will serve as a pilot for replicating the project in other EU countries, highlighting its potential for broader impact in the protection of fundamental rights.”
Tigran Karapetyan, Head of Transversal Challenges and Multilateral Projects Division, Directorate General I - Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe, noted that this project builds on previous cooperation with institutions in Cyprus and specifically with the NPM, aiming to strengthen frameworks to prevent ill-treatment and torture. Working alongside Ireland, Cyprus will benefit from tailored support, technical expertise, and training to improve monitoring in areas like immigration detention, social care homes, and healthcare institutions. The long-term goal is to safeguard the rights of individuals deprived of liberty, ensuring compliance with international standards.” Mr Karapetyan stressed the engagement and collaboration between different stakeholders for the success of the initiative.
The project launch served as a moment to foster cooperation between Ireland and Cyprus, laying the groundwork for future collaboration and joint efforts to enhance detention oversight in both countries.
As the Project enters its active implementation, project panels will be convened, and activities initiated to achieve project’s outcomes.
The project "Technical Support for More Effective and Resilient National Preventive Mechanisms" started on 12 September 2024. Co-funded by the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument and implemented by the Council of Europe in collaboration with the European Commission, the initiative aims to support Ireland and Cyprus in developing operational tools, raising awareness, and building/enhancing the capacity of NPMs. These actions are crucial to safeguarding the rights of individuals deprived of liberty in line with international human rights standards.