Representatives of National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) from 14 European countries participated in a focused training on leveraging the Guide for NPMs on monitoring of the implementation of the European Commission Recommendation on procedural rights of suspects and accused persons subject to pre-trial detention and on material detention conditions to strengthen monitoring practices and reinforce their preventive mandates. The training sessions examined how the Recommendation can help NPMs address overcrowding, legislative inconsistencies, and poor conditions of detention, while remaining within their remit of identifying systemic risks of ill-treatment.
Although many NPMs have yet to use the Recommendation, examples from Switzerland and Croatia demonstrated its growing relevance in reporting on detention conditions.
A key part of the training focused on improving reporting practices and increasing the impact of NPM recommendations, with a call to use the European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence more systematically. Participants underscored that “acceptance in principle” by authorities often does not lead to implementation, reinforcing the need for structured follow-up.
Another dedicated segment addressed priority concerns affecting vulnerable groups, including women, children, LGBTI+ persons, detainees with disabilities or mental health conditions, high-security detainees, and foreign nationals. Discussions emphasised the need for tailored regimes, specialised staff training, comprehensive and individualised risk assessments, and strong anti-discrimination safeguards.
In addition, the training focused on dialogue, advocacy, and follow-up mechanisms. NPMs were encouraged to maintain permanent, constructive communication with the primary addressees of their recommendations, national administrative authorities, and management of places of deprivation of liberty. Publishing visit reports, continuously assessing implementation levels, and communicating the importance of NPM work to the wider public were highlighted as essential practices.
Overall, the training reaffirmed that the Recommendation provides a valuable framework for enhancing NPMs mandate effectuation, strengthening dialogue with national authorities, and increasing the effectiveness of follow-up to ensure meaningful improvements in detention conditions and treatment of persons deprived of their liberty.
The training was organised with the support of the joint European Union-Council of Europe project "Support to Council of Europe for EU network of prison monitoring bodies" (European NPM Forum).
