On 28 March 2024, the draft law amending the law of 12 May 2019 establishing a Federal Institute for Human Rights (FIRM/IFDH) was discussed and approved in a plenary session of the House of Representatives. The draft law creates a prevention mechanism that will monitor the treatment of people residing in places of deprivation of liberty such as prisons, closed centers, or police stations. 

The prevention mechanism will be created within the Federal Institute for Human Rights (FIRM/IFDH), which will collaborate closely with three specialized institutions: the Central Prison Monitoring Council (CCSP/CTRG), the Federal Migration Centre (Myria), and Committee P.

The Federal Institute for Human Rights and the three specialized institutions will regularly visit, as a preventive measure, places of deprivation of liberty. They will publish (thematic) reports based on their visits and make recommendations to the competent authorities. They will also be able to make proposals and comments on legislation and will make a public annual report.

The FIRM/IFDH, the CCSP/CTRG, Myria, and Committee P will not visit places of deprivation of liberty which fall under the jurisdiction of the Regions and Communities, such as the public youth protection institutions.

For further information, please read the press releases from the FIRM/IFDH (in French or Dutch) or from Myria (in French or Dutch).