Voltar The CPT and the European Court of Human Rights hold a seminar on prisoner’s rights and the situation of prisons in Europe

On 20 November, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and In-human or Degrading Treatment (CPT) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) came together for a joint seminar focused on prisoners’ rights and the situation of prisons across Europe. Led by CPT President Alan Mitchell and ECHR President Mattias Guyomar, the meeting brought together some 90 participants from both bodies, including twenty ECHR judges and eight members of the CPT for an in-depth exchange on shared standards and current challenges.
The President of the CPT, Alan Mitchell, former Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, Christos Giakoumopoulos, and the President of the European Court on Human Rights, Mattias Guyomar.

The President of the CPT, Alan Mitchell, former Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, Christos Giakoumopoulos, and the President of the European Court on Human Rights, Mattias Guyomar.

The participants discussed somatic and mental health in prison, solitary confinement, measurable standard for assessing material conditions of detention and respect for private life. This dialogue is crucial, as the CPT and the ECHR play complementary roles in identifying shortcomings and shaping standards, one from a preventive perspective and the other through binding Court judgments. Alan Mitchell, CPT President, stressed, “cooperation between the CPT and the European Court of Human Rights is vital to preventing ill-treatment and ensuring respect for dignity in every prison in Europe.”

By strengthening their dialogue, the two bodies enhance their ability to address persistent challenges in European prison systems and to ensure that human rights are respected.

20/11/2025
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