National preventive mechanism conducts surprise inspection at Nicosia Central Prisons

On Monday, officials from the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights, Maria Stylianou-Lottidi, conducted a surprise inspection of the Central Prisons. The inspection specifically aimed to evaluate the conditions of juvenile detention areas. The delegation consisted of six officials from the Commissioner's office, two representatives from the Council of Europe, and a translator. This visit was conducted under the 'Technical Support for More Effective and Resilient National Preventive Mechanisms' project, which is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture in accordance with the OPCAT protocol and international child rights standards. This action follows a similar unannounced visit conducted last week at the Pournara First Reception Center. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Irish Prison Inspectorate to ensure adherence to international human rights mandates.