A new project, financed by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe, which aims to move the Ukrainian penitentiary system from punitive to rehabilitative approach, was launched in Kyiv 3d of July at the Radisson Hotel in Yaroslaviv Val. The project with a budget of 1 million euros will operate over the next 3 years, setting up pilot programmes in 6 selected prisons. The project is part of the Programmatic Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Council of Europe.

“This Project will contribute to the reform of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine in line with the standards of the Council of Europe”, said Volodymyr Palagnyuk, Head of State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine”.

While making sure that societal concerns on safety and security are observed, the project will develop proposals for meaningful activities for prisoners, such as workplace and social skills training, family visits, cultural and recreation programmes.  Another aim is to ensure safe release and better chances of resettlement for each prisoner.   There are also plans to improve Ukrainian internal prison inspection and to review the mechanism that handles prisoners’ complaints.