Training on detention monitoring and the protection of human rights while preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism in prisons

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is organizing a regional training course to strengthen the knowledge and skills of independent detention monitors from selected European countries with regard to protecting human rights while preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) in prison settings. The training course will take place at ODIHR premises in Warsaw, on 15 and 16 September 2026.

The workshop is a follow-up to ODIHR’s first training event for selected European countries held in 2024. The upcoming regional training will target European countries that were previously unable to attend. Thus far, four such workshops have been delivered to detention monitors from selected countries in Central Asia (2023), as well as Western, Central and South East Europe (2024). This training workshop will be conducted by human rights experts from ODIHR and an expert with experience in independent detention monitoring from France. 

Topics and sessions

Based on published ODIHR guidance, the training aims to improve participants’ understanding of key human rights issues related to preventing and countering VERLT in prisons and to strengthen their ability to assess related prison-based security strategies for their human rights compliance. Among other topics, participants will learn about human rights challenges related to: 

• the identification of violent extremist prisoners, classification, risk and needs assessments; 
• security measures and the prison regime; 
• rehabilitation and reintegration programmes; 
• institutional and staff issues.

Participants will also learn about the practical challenges that detention monitors face in their work in this context. By using concrete examples and case studies from the practice of independent detention monitors, the applicability of the learning outcomes to the participants' work is ensured.

The working language of the event will be English. 

Participants

The intended recipients of the training are independent detention monitors from selected European states, including Belgium, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Switzerland, Türkiye and the Slovak Republic. Participants will include practitioners from National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and civil society organizations involved in detention monitoring, penitentiary reform and criminal justice issues. The course will involve up to 20 participants with different backgrounds related to the topic.

Registration

Participation is by invitation only.

Background and further information 

ODIHR has been mandated by the participating States to provide technical assistance and advice on the implementation of counter-terrorism measures in accordance with international human rights obligations and commitments. The Office provides a comprehensive range of activities in this regard, including capacity building on the protection of human rights while preventing and countering terrorism and VERLT. As part of its mandate to prevent torture, ODIHR also provides support and promotes the exchange of good practices between NPMs.

Questions related to the training courses can be directed to:
Maximilian Scheid, ODIHR Adviser on Anti-Terrorism Issues (maximilian.scheid@odihr.pl)
Nini Sandborg, ODIHR Adviser on Torture Prevention (nini.sandborg@odihr.pl)