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At its 120th plenary session held in Strasbourg from 6 to 10 July 2026, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) adopted six reports on visits carried out to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Kosovo, and Montenegro, which will now be forwarded to the respective national authorities.
The Committee also adopted two new sets of standards, addressing the treatment of women in detention and the treatment of persons held in immigration detention, aimed at giving national authorities clearer guidance on protecting the specific needs of these groups; the full texts of these standards are expected to be published shortly.
In addition, the CPT discussed the growing effects of climate change on people deprived of their liberty.
CPT President Alan Mitchell warned that recurring heatwaves are particularly harmful to detained persons, many of whom are held in facilities poorly equipped to withstand extreme temperatures and stressed that both heatwaves and cold spells can push detention conditions to the threshold of inhuman treatment, posing serious difficulties for both detainees and staff – calling for practical measures such as cooling of cells and ensured access to drinking water. He further noted that severe overcrowding, including detainees sleeping on floor mattresses and spending most of the day confined to their cells, compounds the effects of extreme heat, and called for both immediate relief measures and longer-term solutions to safeguard detainees’ dignity and staff working conditions as extreme weather events become increasingly frequent.
During the session, members also took part in a training session on interviewing detained persons with mental illness, and the Committee welcomed two new members: Brigitte Konz (Luxembourg) and Orsolya Czenczer (Hungary).
📋 Six Country Visit Reports Adopted The Committee finalised and approved reports on its visits to:
- Albania (Jan–Feb 2026)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (March 2026)
- Bulgaria (Jan–Feb 2026)
- Germany (Nov–Dec 2025)
- Kosovo* (Feb 2026)
- Montenegro (Nov 2025)
📘 Two New Standards Adopted New CPT standards were approved covering:
- Women in detention
- Immigration detention
These set out clearer requirements for the treatment of these two groups and give national authorities stronger guidance on safeguarding their specific needs. Full texts to follow soon.
🌡️ Climate Change and Detention Conditions The Committee addressed the growing impact of extreme heat and cold on people held in custody.
CPT President Alan Mitchell warned that ongoing heatwaves hit detained persons especially hard, since many are held in facilities not built to cope with extreme temperatures. He noted that both heatwaves and cold spells can push detention conditions to the point of being inhumane, creating serious challenges for detainees and staff alike — citing the need for concrete steps such as cooling cells and guaranteeing drinking water access.
He also flagged that severe overcrowding — including inmates sleeping on floor mattresses and spending most of the day locked in — makes heat-related conditions even worse. Mitchell called for both urgent relief measures and longer-term solutions to protect detainees’ dignity and staff working conditions as extreme weather becomes more common.
🎓 Training Members took part in a session on how to interview detained persons with mental illness.
🤝 New Members Welcomed
- Brigitte Konz (Luxembourg)
- Orsolya Czenczer (Hungary)
Source: Council of Europe – CPT, published 10/07/2026 *Reference to Kosovo is without prejudice to its status, per UN SC Resolution 1244.
