One hundred thirty-three medical professionals working at the Health Centre of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine improved their knowledge and skills in documenting cases of ill-treatment in line with the Istanbul Protocol. The respective two three-day training sessions took place in Truskavets on 3-8 November 2025. A core group of 43 participants took part in the face-to-face format, while an additional 90 participants followed online.

The aim of the training was to strengthen practical skills in documenting bodily injuries as well as signs of psychological ill-treatment in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol. At the same time, the training sessions aimed to build capacity of the core group for further training their colleagues: participants mastered facilitation techniques, the development of training materials and the conduct of their own classes.

During the discussions, participants noted that the role of medical workers in the penitentiary system has not only a clinical but also a human rights dimension. As the participants noted:

"Every missed diagnosis is not only a medical error, but also an underestimated human suffering."

The training participants demonstrated a high level of interest and professionalism. After the training, they returned to their institutions with methodological materials and a readiness to conduct cascade training for their colleagues. This will improve the quality of medical documentation and ensure the timely recording of possible cases of ill-treatment.

The training sessions were an important step in strengthening human rights guarantees and raising standards of medical care in prisons, laying the ground for sustainable change across the entire system.

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The Council of Europe project “Towards More Humane Conditions of Detention and Reduced Reoffending in Ukraine” (DECOPRIS) is implemented within the framework of  the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” (2023–2026). DECOPRIS aims to enhance the protection of prisoners’ rights by improving prison management practices and advancing rehabilitation efforts.