The meeting was organized by the OSCE’s office of democratic institusions and human rights (ODHIR) and the Association for the prevention of torture (APT). 32 representatives from national preventive mechanisms in the OSCE region participated as well as representatives from the European Committee for Prevention of Torture and the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.
The meeting aimed to take stock of achievements and challenges in the region, 10 years after the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT). There was also ample opportunity for the representatives of the NPMs to exchange experiences and best practices with each other.
During the two days participants discussed questions related to preventive monitoring of detention in the criminal justice system and in places such as psychiatric institutions and social care homes, including the role of monitors in bridging the gap between detention standards and practice.