PRI’s First Mission to Türkiye: Advancing Human Rights in Prisons

Photo caption: PRI meeting with Directorate General of prisons and Detention Houses

From 20–25 October 2024, Penal Reform International (PRI) embarked on its first mission to Türkiye for an  EU-funded initiative. This four-year project, implemented in partnership with the Civil Society in the Penal System Association (CISST), aims to support the improvement of detention conditions and treatment of people deprived of liberty through empowering civil society organisations and justice stakeholders, raising awareness of people in detention’s rights through media, and also increasing legal assistance for people deprived of their liberty.

During the mission, PRI and CISST conducted strategic meetings with:

  • Government bodies, including the Ombudsperson’s Office, NPM and Parliament.
  • International partners, such as the EU Delegation, the Dutch Embassy and the Council of Europe.
  • Local actors, including civil society organizations and bar associations.

In addition, PRI launched a constructive dialogue with the Directorate General of prisons and Detention Houses, discussing the grounds of cooperation within the project.

These discussions centered on aligning Türkiye’s penitentiary practices with international standards like the Nelson Mandela and Bangkok Rules, empowering civil society, and advocating for systemic change​.

As part of this mission, on 24 October 2024, PRI and CISST held an official launch event of the project in Ankara. Attended by representatives from government agencies, the EU, CSOs, and the legal sector, the launch highlighted the initiative’s vision for a rights-based, gender-responsive approach to detention reform and its anticipated results.

PRI is looking forward to the first phase of the project that entails setting the groundwork through a comprehensive baseline study, capacity building for CSOs, establishing a network for prison-focused civil society organisations, and initiating critical legal assistance services. This phase, jointly delivered with CISST, will also include the design of tailored training modules, the formation of monitoring tools, and the introduction of advocacy efforts to build awareness and partnerships, ensuring that all activities are aligned with international human rights standards.