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In European prisons, cases of abuse and ill-treatment are once again on the rise. This is documented in the newly published report of the Anti-Torture Committee of the Council of Europe (the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment). One of the contributors to this report is Hans Wolff, Chief Physician of Prison Medicine at the Geneva University Hospitals

Que se passe-t-il derrière les murs des Établissements de la plaine de l'Orbe, le plus grand complexe pénitentiaire de Suisse ? Plus de 330 détenus y purgent des peines de longue durée, dans un univers fermé ou semi-fermé, régi par des règles strictes et des routines immuables. Comment les détenus qui purgent de longues peines vivent-ils la détention au quotidien ? Quelles réflexions mènent-ils sur leurs actes passés ? Comment le personnel pénitentiaire envisage-t-il son accompagnement ? Une immersion brute et sans fard au cœur de la prison, là où le temps semble suspendu. Avec Julie de Dardel, professeure assistante au département de géographie UNIGE, spécialiste des prisons et des politiques pénales, et le Prof. Hans Wolff, médecin-chef du service de médecine pénitentiaire HUG, ancien représentant de la Suisse au Comité européen pour la prévention de la torture du Conseil de l'Europe. Production : Raphaële Bouchet | Réalisation : Samuel Morier-Genoud Émission Vacarme RTS Radio Télévision Suisse Diffusion : 8 février 2026

Dr Fadi Meroueh, Head of the Healthcare Unit at Villeneuve les Maguelone Prison and President of Health Without Barriers, the European Federation for Prison Health, shares his experience on healthcare access for inmates, the impact of incarceration on health, and the challenges of maintaining medical ethics in a severely overcrowded facility. He reflects on the barriers to upholding prisoners rights and the critical role of prison healthcare professionals in advocating for human dignity behind bars. 6th winner of the Johannes Feest Prize 2023 Health Without Barriers Host: Alain Doudies - Production: A. Rollet Show: Racontez nous votre Montpellier - Divergence FM 93.9 Broadcast: Wednesday April 22 2026

00:00 Introduction 02:30 Opioid withdrawal syndrome – Pr Nicolas Authier 15:10 Addiction and opioid use disorder – Pr Marc Auriacombe 30:45 Treatment approaches – Dr Lintzeris & Dr Dunlop 55:20 Opioids in prison – Dr Montanari & Dr Meroueh 01:25:00 Conclusion The film produced by Health Without Barriers (HWB) in collaboration with EUDA is now publicly available. This documentary provides a clear, human, and evidence-based perspective on opioid use, dependence, associated risks, and innovative harm reduction strategies across Europe, with particular attention to vulnerable settings, including prisons. The film brings together insights from healthcare professionals, researchers, and field experts, along with powerful testimonies that add depth and authenticity. Who is it for? Healthcare professionals, social and justice sector workers, researchers, students, and anyone interested in understanding opioid-related issues.

Lara Tavoschi introduces the RISE-Vac project

Drug use is constantly increasing at a global scale. Many risks of drug use can be reduced if drug policy follows the principle of Harm Reduction and focuses on the health and safety of the individual. Learn more about how Harm Reduction measures save lives in this video and on https://www.gpdpd.org/en/drug-policy/health-oriented-drug-policy

“Nowadays, when the prohibition of torture and other forms of ill-treatment is questioned as part of an attempt to challenge human rights and democracy, the CPT’s role is more important than ever”, Mykola Gnatovskyy, President of the CPT (March 2015-March 2021) on today’s publication of the 30th general report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). In its annual report for 2020, the CPT recalls that in many of its visits over the years it has found a failure to meet the basic needs of prisoners in certain establishments, which could lead to situations in which prisoners are exposed to inhuman and degrading treatment. The CPT issued also a set of minimum requirements for conditions of detention in European prisons, concerned by the negative effects of pre-existing austerity measures in certain states, which could be exacerbated by possible deeper budgetary restrictions due to the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://bit.ly/33xLUNL #humanrights #preventingtorture #illtreatment

18 October 1961 - 18 October 2021 This year, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the European Social Charter and the 25th anniversary of the Revised European Social Charter. The European Social Charter from 1961 is a Council of Europe landmark treaty guarantees the enjoyment, without discrimination, of fundamental social and economic rights defined in the framework of a social policy that Parties undertake to pursue, by all appropriate means. In 1996, the Charter was revised to add new rights and amendments adopted by the Parties, such as the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion; right to housing; right to protection in cases of termination of employment; right to protection against sexual harassment; rights of workers with family responsibilities to equal opportunities and equal treatment; and many others. Know more https://bit.ly/3x7A8qv #SocialRights #HumanRights

The provision of #healthcare in #prisons is an inseparable part of the overall notion of the protection of #humanrights of persons deprived of their liberty. Gianluca Esposito, Head of the Action against Crime Department, explains how cooperation projects help the authorities of the Council of Europe's member States in developing a strategic approach in line with the Organisation’ standards in the area of prison and probation. ➡️ Stay tuned and follow our #RightToHealthForEveryone series to learn more about relevant Council of Europe standards in the field of health protection. ℹ️ https://bit.ly/3iy8Ml9 #HumanePrison #RightToHealthForEveryone