The civil monitoring boards (CMB) have been established by Law 4681 to secure a civilian mechanism which will monitor prisons and detention houses and provide a civilian oversight of the places of detention and places of execution of criminal sanctions.

The project “Enhancing the effectiveness of civil monitoring boards in line with European standards” is to be implemented over the next 36 months by Council of Europe and will further strengthen the institutional and operational framework and capacities of the CMBs. The project will be implemented in close cooperation and partnership with the CMBs and the Directorate General for the Prison and Detention Houses (DGPDH).

Main project’s outcomes and outputs

The project’s overall objective is to contribute to safer society that provides full protection of the rights and dignity of persons deprived of their liberty by enhancing the prison monitoring practices in Turkey by applying the Council of Europe standards and best European practices.

The first immediate outcome is to strengthen the independence and efficiency of the CMBs and to improve the objectiveness and transparency in prison monitoring. The first immediate outcome will be reached through the following results:

1. The CMBs functional and operational independence enhanced in line with the international standards by revising its regulatory framework

The first output will collect data on the functioning and the bottlenecks of the CMBs by conducting a baseline study and assessment visit, as well as disseminating and reviewing best practices. As a result, the revised CMBs legal and regulatory framework, with focus on the CMB Regulation, will be prepared and submitted to the authorities for its swift adoption and implementation.

2. The CMBs effectiveness improved by further developing, unifying and aligning their working methodology and tools with the Council of Europe standards and best European practices

The second output will assist the beneficiary in setting up the minimum monitoring standards and developing the necessary tools, with focus on the prison monitoring checklists as the crucial tool, as well as other reporting templates/forms/questionnaires and manuals, desegregated per type of prison and type of monitoring. As a result, the revised CMBs’ monitoring methodology, standards and tools will be aligned with the Council of Europe standards and best European practices.

The second immediate outcome is to ensure the sustainable training provision and internal coordination of the CMBs, thus improving the quality of the civil monitoring system in Turkey. This outcome will be accomplished through the achievement of the following results:

1. The capacities of the CMB members enhanced by increasing their knowledge and skills in conducting prison monitoring in line with the Council of Europe standards and best European practices.

This output will enhance the monitoring capacities of the CMB members by ensuring sustainable training provision, i.e. by establishing pool of trainers who will further conduct cascade sessions for the CMBs members and other external monitoring mechanisms, as well as developing a web-platform and online training programme on prison monitoring methodology, standards and tools.

2. The CMBs internal coordination and communication with external control mechanisms improved.

The last output supports establishment of a well-organised and sustainable coordination system among the CMBs and smooth cooperation with other monitoring mechanisms (such as the National Preventive Mechanism, enforcement judges, public prosecutors, Ministry of Justice internal inspectors, etc.). It will also raise the awareness of prison management and staff and the general public on the role and responsibilities of the CMBs. As a result, the transparency of CMBs’ work, their credibility and trustworthiness will increase.

Title of the Project: Enhancing the Effectiveness of Civil Monitoring Boards in line with European Standards

Duration: 36 months (01 June 2019 – 31 May 2022)

Place/Country: Turkey

Budget: 1.600.000 €

Funding: This project is implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by Sweden, Switzerland, the Republic of Turkey, the Human Rights Trust Fund (HRTF) and Canada

End beneficiary: Ministry of Justice

1. The prison monitoring practices in Turkey enhanced by applying Council of Europe standards and best practices
2. The independence and efficiency of the CMBs further strengthened, improving the objectiveness and transparency in prison monitoring.
3. CMB members benefit from sustainable training provision and internal coordination, improving the quality of the civic monitoring system