The European Prison Litigation Network (EPLN) was founded in 2013 by law practitioners, prisoners’ rights defenders and researchers active in the prison field with the aim to enhance the protection of fundamental rights of the detained persons in Europe, diminish the use of incarceration and decrease the length of sentences.

EPLN was granted participative status with the Council of Europe in 2017. The network unites various non-governmental organizations from Hungary, Greece, Poland, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Romania, the United Kingdom, Moldova, Portugal, Ukraine, and from July 2023, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association joined their number.