Eastern European Conference on Monitoring Places of Detention
The Crimean city of Sudak hosted an international meeting of independent detention monitoring mechanisms on 6-7 October. Representatives from various monitoring bodies shared their experiences in this respect including from Bulgaria, Finland, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. APT spoke at the event in order to contextualize the different national monitoring schemes within the wider framework of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.
| Date: | 6 - 7 October 2008 |
| Place: | Sudak, Ukraine |
| Partners: | OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine |
| Purpose: | To promote the concept of independent monitoring of places of detention with a focus on police detention and penitentiary facilities. |
| Activities: | The Crimean city of Sudak hosted a two-day international meeting of independent detention monitoring mechanisms on 6-7 October. Representatives from various monitoring bodies spoke at the event in order to share their experiences in this respect including from Bulgaria, Finland, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. These included representatives from the UK-based Independent Custody Visiting Association, community oriented schemes in Romania and Bulgaria as well as Finland’s and Slovenia’s Ombudsman's Offices. An APT representative also spoke at the event in order to contextualize the different national monitoring schemes within the wider framework of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The domestic component to monitoring was provided by several Ukrainian participants including several representatives of the Mobile Police Monitoring Groups and Ukraine's Ombudsman's Office. |
| Outcome: | It is hoped that as a result of the exchange there is now greater awareness among the participants of the concept and the need for independent monitoring of all places of detention in Ukraine. Although there exist various monitoring bodies in the country, it is still not known which type of body will be designated or established as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) under the OPCAT in the country. Ukraine ratified the instrument in September 2006 and therefore should have put in place its NPM by September 2007. It is therefore hoped that the event provided greater stimulus for the conclusion of this all-important process. |
| Next Steps: | The APT intends to continue working in Ukraine for the effective implementation of the OPCAT. |
| Documents: | |
| Contact Person: | Matthew Pringle, Europe & Central Asia Programme Officer |