How to prevent torture in places of detention: ZMINA held a specialised training

On 21 April 2026, the Human Rights Centre ZMINA held an online training titled “European standards for the prevention of ill-treatment in the penitentiary system”. The event brought together 58 participants – human rights professionals, representatives of state institutions, including the Office of the Ombudsman and the State Criminal-Executive Service, civil society monitors of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), human rights defenders, and experts.

The event aimed to deepen participants’ knowledge of the standards of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, their evolution and current application, as well as to develop practical skills in assessing the compliance of national practice with these standards.

The training was opened by Maryna Demura, Project Manager at the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, who welcomed the participants, outlined the objectives of the event, and moderated the training.

The main part of the training was delivered by Dmytro Yahunov – a lawyer, Doctor of Political Sciences, Candidate of Sciences in Public Administration, Associate Professor, Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine, and a member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) in respect of Ukraine.

Photo: Dmytro Yahunov

During the first session, “What torture looks like in the 21st century”, participants explored the contemporary understanding of torture – from its legal definition to its practical manifestations. Particular attention was paid to the principle of zero tolerance for torture as a professional standard, the role of the CPT as a preventive mechanism, and the specific nature of places of detention as environments with an increased risk of human rights violations.

The second session, “From standards to accountability: positive obligations of the State”, focused on the practical application of CPT standards. Participants discussed the substance of the State’s positive obligations to prevent torture, the criteria for effective investigation of such cases, as well as typical violations identified in practice. Particular attention was given to conditions of detention and those aspects that may constitute breaches of international standards.

During the training, participants had the opportunity to engage in interactive discussions, analyse cases, and exchange professional experience. Particular emphasis was placed on the use of CPT standards in monitoring, analytical, and advocacy activities.

Dmytro Yahunov’s presentation is available here.

The Human Rights Centre ZMINA will continue to organise educational activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of human rights professionals and promoting the implementation of international standards in national practice. There is still an opportunity to join the training scheduled for 28 April by completing the form via this link.

The training was held as part of the project “DIGNITY: bridging views for a rights-based approach to pre-trial detention”, implemented with the support of the European Commission in cooperation with the Themistocles and Dimitris Tsatsos Foundation – the Centre for European Constitutional Law (CECL) and the European Prison Litigation Network (EPLN).