Council of Europe, Office in Pristina, in partnership with the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo, organized a Regional conference of Western Balkans’ on National Preventive Mechanisms against Torture, ill-treatment, inhuman or degrading treatment. The conference with the topic: Mental disability, Deprivation of Liberty and Human Dignity “is the activity of the project “Strengthening the National Preventive Mechanism”, funded by Swiss and Norwegian governments and implemented by the Council of Europe.  The project aims awareness rising of relevant stakeholders and general public on the role and mandate of mechanisms for prevention of torture and ill-treatment.

The conference was organized with intention to mark World Mental Health Day (10 October) with the thematic focus on prevention ill-treatment of persons with limited mental abilities within deprivation of liberty context. Participants of this conference were representatives of national preventive mechanisms against torture in the region, as well as Ombudsmen from the Republic of Montenegro and of Republic of Slovenia.   In their presentations, the panelists emphasized the role and mandate of the mechanisms for the prevention of torture and ill-treatment, as well as the challenges that they face regarding efficient functioning of mental health institutions and other rehabilitation Centers for mentally ill persons.