On 9 February 2015, Council of Europe (CoE), in cooperation with the Penitentiary and Probation Training Centre, launches training on the psycho-social rehabilitation programme “Atlantis” (12 steps) with the aim to develop the skills of the staff involved in implementation. The participants of the training are social workers and psychologists from penitentiary institutions, probation service and a civil organisation “Tanadgoma”.

The programme, called “Atlantis” (12 steps), supports convicts dependent on psychoactive substances in their rehabilitation. Those involved in the programme are lead through 12 stages of the rehabilitation process, starting from acknowledging drug (substance) dependence and leading to full recovery. It has been piloted in several penitentiary establishments since 2005, but has not been systematically introduced. However, recognising its initial success and importance, it has been finally included in the Penitentiary Healthcare Strategy for 2014-2017.

Last year, with the assistance of the EU/CoE Joint Programme “Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions”, the national authorities drafted the legal acts necessary to the systematic introduction of the “Atlantis” programme in the penitentiary system. As a result, the programme will be launched in 4 places, in Kutaisi No.2, Rustavi No.5 (female), Rustavi No.6 institutions and the half-way house in Tbilisi from March 2015.

The 10-day training covers theory and practice of diagnostics, treatment and management of drug and alcohol addiction as well as related psycho-social aspects.

The training is organized in the framework of the EU/CoE Joint Programme Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions”. The programme was launched in July 2013 and it aims to strengthen respect of human rights in places of detention and improving access to healthcare for persons deprived of their liberty.