The project on “Enhancing the Disciplinary and Reward Procedures for Prisoners in Türkiye” is being implemented by the Council of Europe (CoE) in close cooperation and partnership with the Directorate General of Prisons and Detention Houses (DGPDH) of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The duration of the project is 36 months, namely between 1 November 2022 and 31 October 2025.
The key international standards in support to the actions undertaken with this Project are set in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the European Prison Rules, as well as the standards and recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).
What is the goal and objective of the programme?

 The project aims to contribute to a safer society that provides full protection of the rights and dignity of persons deprived of their liberty. As such, it is expected to develop and ensure the application of a standardised and efficient discipline and reward system that contributes to prisoners’ rehabilitation.

Programme Info

The Project is currently being co-funded by Norway, the Human Rights Trust Fund (HRTF) of the CoE, Belgium, Türkiye, the Netherlands and Switzerland, with an overall budget of 1 500 000 EUR.

How does the programme work?

 Project works through a combination of tailored policy/legislative, capacity-building and awareness raising activities.

Who benefits from the programme?

Project Partners and Stakeholders: DGPDH of the Ministry of Justice, prisons across the country, enforcement judges, public prosecutors, prison inspectors and controllers, Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye, Ombudsman Institution, members of the civil monitoring boards and the civil society
Target Groups: Penitentiary Staff (managerial and operational level)
End Beneficiaries: Prisoners, citizens, and society at large

What are the programme outcomes?

 Provide recommendations for improving the legislative framework governing disciplinary measures and reward criteria in line with international standards and CoE best practices drafted and submit to the authorities for adoption
 Develop and put in use a Rulebook on rewards and disciplinary measures with aim to unify the activities undertaken by the justice enforcement professionals throughout the prisons across the country
 Support the authorities in putting in place an effective classification system for a standardized implementation of a reward and disciplinary sanctions mechanism and in designing a standardised complaint form and a comprehensive data base
 Develop and pilot common training curricula for prison staff on applying disciplinary and reward measures and procedures