Enhancement of Human Rights and Health-Care Support to Penitentiary System in Georgia

The Project builds upon the results achieved from the implementation of the previous CoE actions in Georgia, namely the EU-CoE JP “Human rights and healthcare in prisons and other closed institutions in Georgia” implemented in two phases between 2010-2017, and the VC project “Improving mental health care of persons detained in Georgia” implemented during 2018-2019. The previous projects supported to develop mental health care policies in prisons and other closed institutions and to improve the prison staff’ knowledge and skills to handle mental health-related issues better.

The current Project will assist the Special Penitentiary Service (Ministry of Justice) of Georgia in further improvement of healthcare services within the penitentiary system with a particular focus on mental healthcare.

It will also assist development and application of treatment of drug and alcohol addictions while strengthening of harm-reduction approach.

attention will be paid to the continuation of the suicide prevention programmes and training for the psychologists and medical personnel employed in the system.

The Project offers targeted solutions to:

the improved access of inmates to quality psychiatric care and treatment programmes;
establishment of an effective quality internal control mechanism on the provision of health care.

This Project will be implemented within 24 months, with an overall budget of 600 000 Euros financed by the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2016-2019.

Project documentation

Useful information

PROJECT NEWS

Back Support to the Special Penitentiary Service to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

Responding to the emergency of COVID-19 crisis and to the need of providing support to inmates and prison staff, Council of Europe donated, on 6 May 2020, the necessary protective equipment to the Special Penitentiary Service (SPS) of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia (MoJ).

In total, 6 500 masks, 2 500 face shields and 300 litres of sanitizer and antiseptic liquid were handed over to SPS, while a second delivery of distance thermometers is expected by the end of May 2020.

The donation builds on the efforts of the MoJ to follow the CPT statement of principles issued on 20 March 2020 for the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in accordance with the World Health Organization guidelines. It will assist authorities in addressing COVID-19 crisis and improve the protection of human rights, as well as the living conditions of inmates.

This activity was organized within the framework of the CoE Project “Enhancement of Human Rights and Health-Care Support to Penitentiary Service” in Georgia, which is designed to support the further improvement of healthcare services within the penitentiary system with a special focus on mental healthcare.

Georgia 7 May 2020