Speakers
Plenary Session
The European Prison Observatory (EPO), coordinated by Italian NGO Antigone and supported by the EU Criminal Justice Programme, analyzes and promotes prison system improvements in Europe. It advocates for international detention standards, collects data on prison conditions (e.g. overcrowding, healthcare, solitary confinement), and informs policymakers, civil society, and the public. EPO also champions alternatives to imprisonment and prisoners' rights. During the COVID-19 pandemic, EPO monitored its impact on European prisons, reported on prison authorities' measures, and highlighted prisoners' challenges, advocating for their rights. EPO complements independent inspection bodies, ensuring transparency, and promoting civil society monitoring. They've launched a campaign, "Prison Monitoring by Civil Society: A Document for European Institutions," to raise awareness and seek European institution support for independent prison monitoring, along with standards, guidelines, and mechanisms for acting on findings.