SPERU - Further Support to the Penitentiary Reform in Ukraine

This project was co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the main partners, namely the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the State Executive Service and its interregional branches, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Supreme Court of Ukraine, the General Prosecutor Office, the Ombudsmen Office and Civil Society organisations and other relevant national stakeholders interested in penitentiary reform in Ukraine.

Thanks to this project, Ukrainian authorities have been assisted in the promotion of Human rights in the management of prisons as well as in the further development of a rehabilitative approach to offenders in line with the Council of Europe standards, in particular those of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture an Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), and taking into account the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.

The Joint Programme (JP) SPERU achieved the following outcomes:

enhancement of Justice system actors’ awareness to proceed with the penitentiary reform based on the Council of Europe standards
partnerships between the justice system, community services and civil society are facilitated to enhance resocialization and reintegration of prisoners
justice system capacity is enhanced to develop and implement healthcare strategy in prisons

Further support to the reforms in the field of prison and the protection of prisoners’ rights is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2021.

The project implementation started in July 2019 and ended bewteen October 2021 and April 2022.

Project documentation

Useful information

PROJECT NEWS

Back Council of Europe assists Ukraine in establishing a dual system of regular internal and external penitentiary inspections

The Council of Europe continues its support to Ukraine in the process of reforming the penitentiary system.

At the request of the Minister of Justice of Ukraine, the Council of Europe provided, on 4 September 2020, expert opinion on the Ukrainian draft Law “On the establishment of the dual system of the regular penitentiary inspections”.

The draft law was designed to establish and operate a system of regular internal (administrative) and external penitentiary inspections of pre-trial detention facilities and penitentiary institutions and to ensure compliance of their activities with the requirements of the Constitution of Ukraine, international and national legislation, observance of legal rights and interests of convicted persons and those held in pre-trial detention, as well as the staff of penitentiary and pre-trial detention facilities.

The opinion examines the compatibility of the provisions of the Draft Law with the Council of Europe and other international standards and provides recommendations in this regard. It will contribute to the Verkhovna Rada’s examination with a view of the adoption of the Law.

This activity was organised within the EU and Council of Europe Joint Project "Support to Prison Reform in Ukraine - SPERU", which is designed to promote human rights compliant management of prisons, including better alignment of prison healthcare provisions with European standards.

Ukraine 10 September 2020