The Council of Europe Project “Towards More Humane detention conditions and Reduced Reoffending in Ukraine” (DECOPRIS) and the Ministry of Justice agreed on strategic priorities for penitentiary reform in Ukraine for 2025-2026.
An online meeting to discuss further cooperation was held on 23 January, 2025 with the participation of key representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Department for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (SDECS), Council of Europe Cooperation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty (CPDL) Division and the Pompidou Group.
Ms. Oksana Pugach, Senior Project Officer of DECOPRIS, emphasised that the Council of Europe supports the implementation of penitentiary reform in Ukraine in line with the Penitentiary Reform Strategy 2022–2026 and the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine "Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction" (2023–2026).
Council of Europe representatives outlined main achievements of the DECOPRIS, including piloting and adoption of two rehabilitation programs for prisoners, capacity-building for prison psychologists, and expert support in aligning national regulations with CoE standards.
In additions, plans for 2025–2026 were outlined, which include enhancing human resource policies, addressing professional burnout, expanding rehabilitation programs, and revising regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance with European standards.
Ms. Tanja Rakusic-Hadzic, Head of CPDL Division, emphasised the DECOPRIS project’s adaptability to emerging national priorities and stressed the importance of structured communication between the CoE, the MoJ, and SDECS at both policy and operational levels.
Deputy Minister Pikalov introduced the Ministry’s strategic priorities and announced upcoming initiatives towards combating corruption, addressing human rights violations, and improving safety for prison staff.
Mr. Pikalov welcomed CoE support in integrating international best practices into the penitentiary system of Ukraine and expressed readiness to continue cooperation within the framework of the Project.
This meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Justice to building a humane and rehabilitative penitentiary system in Ukraine. This reform aligns with European standards and holds particular significance for Ukraine’s further EU integration.
The Council of Europe project “Towards More Humane detention conditions 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.
