On 17 September 2026, the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine and the Council of Europe launched the tutored course “International Standards and Respect for Human Rights in the Penitentiary System”.
The course aims to develop the professional competencies of penitentiary system personnel in ensuring and protecting human rights, applying international and national standards for the treatment of prisoners, and implementing Council of Europe standards and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights in their practical activities.
The course is conducted jointly by the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine, the Council of Europe Project "Towards More Humane Detention Conditions and Reduced Reoffending in Ukraine" (DECOPRIS), and the Council of Europe Project “HELP (Human Rights Education for Lawyers) for Ukraine, including during wartime”.
During the launch event, Oksana Pugach, Senior Project Officer of the DECOPRIS Project, emphasised that the course is not merely a training initiative, but also a sustainable professional development tool that will contribute to integrating European standards into the training and practical work of penitentiary system personnel.
“We are not simply presenting a new training course – we are launching a sustainable tool that can directly contribute to strengthening the professional competencies of penitentiary system personnel,” Oksana Pugach noted.
Serhiy Hrechanyuk, Rector of the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine, stressed that respect for human rights in places of detention is one of the State’s priority tasks. He also noted that the HELP course should serve as a practical reference point for personnel and contribute to strengthening their awareness of their responsibility for ensuring the rights of persons held in custody or serving sentences.
The course is unique within the HELP platform. Its content is based on five Council of Europe thematic courses and supplemented with materials adapted to the Ukrainian legal framework, penitentiary practice and current professional challenges. Participants will study the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, issues related to the prevention of ill-treatment, conditions of detention, CPT standards, effective professional communication with different categories of convicts and prisoners, including foreigners, as well as the international transfer of sentenced persons.
Upon completion of the course, participants are expected to improve their skills in preventing ill-treatment; using force in accordance with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and accountability; ensuring appropriate conditions of detention; and communicating professionally with different categories of convicts and prisoners on the basis of respect for human dignity and non-discrimination.
The course will be delivered in a blended learning format from 17 September to 3 November 2026. The programme includes webinars, surveys, case studies, moderated conversations, group work, discussions and training sessions. Participants who complete the course will receive 40 points and a certificate.
The course is delivered by national trainers and involved experts Yevhenii Ivashev, Natalia Razumeyko and Olga Pomogaibo. The course also involves George Tugushi, International Consultant to the Council of Europe; Kyrylo Boycheniuk, Legal Adviser with the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe; and Anton Sikun, Deputy Head of the Division and Head of the Unit for Compliance with the Rights of Convicted Persons and Persons Held in Custody of the Department for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions.
The launch of the course is the result of joint efforts by the Council of Europe and the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine. It opens up new opportunities for integrating international standards into the professional training and development system for personnel of the State Criminal and Executive Service of Ukraine.
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.
