This study focuses on the powers and powers of national preventive mechanisms (NPMs) in monitoring the relationship between the personnel in penal institutions and the prisoners held in prisons, through the case study of Türkiye. Does the NPM of Türkiye work effectively? Does the NPM of Türkiye address the staff-prisoner relationship during penal institution visits? What are the topics that the NPM of Türkiye evaluates and the recommendations it gives regarding the staff-prisoner relationship?
This study aims to find answers to above three questions. In this context, this study, firstly, the roles of OPCAT and NPMs established within the framework of OPCAT will be discussed. One of the powers and mandates of NPMs is to monitor the staff-prisoner relationship in prisons. After compiling the topics that can be monitored within this framework, the example of Türkiye will be discussed. Statistical data regarding the penal institution visits and visiting reports of the NPM of Türkiye will be shared. Then, the topics affecting the staff-prisoner relationship in these reports will be tried to be shared through the reports. In this context, four topics in particular will be detailed with the findings in different reports. These are; a. the importance of a sufficient number of expert personnel b. Compliance with legislation in search c. Training of prison staff and d. Negative and Positive Obligations of the State.
Moderated by Brendan Griffen, Strategy & Governance, Northern Ireland Prison Service
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Dr. Ertuğrul Yazar
Expert on Human Rights and Equality, Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye, Türkiye
Dr. Yazar has been working as a “Human Rights and Equality Expert” at the Turkish Human Rights and Equality Institution since 2015. He has visited many penal institutions, removal centers, detention centers, and other detention centers under the roof of the institution and contributed to the report writing process. He took part in projects of international organizations and provided human rights training to many students, public officials, and representatives of civil society organizations. He taught the course “Human Rights in Penal Institutions” at the university. His articles include; 1. International Human Rights Standards for Staff-Prisoner Relationship in Penitentiary Institutions 2. Human Rights of Prisoners in Penitentiary Institutions: Developments under the Human Rights Action Plan Completed in the 100th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic 3. Right to Transfer of Prisoners in Turkey within the Framework of National and International Standards 4. Administration of Penal Institutions in the Face of Overcrowding. He continues to produce publications on human rights, migration, security and places of detention.
