On 4-8 October 2021, a new rehabilitation pilot programme entitled "Keeping Family Ties in Custody" was launched in the Correctional Colonies Nos. 21 (Solonianska) and 34 (Kamjanska), in the Dnipro region, separately for 15 female and 15 male adult prisoners.

The programme is designed as cognitive behavioural therapy to expand interaction with families of the persons deprived of liberty, to understand and realise the value and importance of family, develop motivation to change behaviour and acquire skills. This will help program participants to show their attention to their families, children or other people important to them. The programme aims to prevent illegal behaviour, misconduct and to encourages prosocial behaviour.

The launching event was attended by Ms Natalia Rybalko, Deputy Head of the Department for Execution of Criminal Sanctions and Mr Valeriy Kalivoshko, Head of the Department of Resocialization and Social Rehabilitation, who will implement the programme taking into account the specific needs of convicted women and men and their relations with family members.

Based on the pilot programme results, the Methodological Handbook on Keeping Family Ties in Custody will be finalised and presented to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine for adoption.

The programme, its development, piloting and launching was organised within the European Union 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.