On 17 March 2015, 6-month basic training course for 25 newly recruited prison regime staff started in Georgia, in the framework of a joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe on “Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions”.  The Deputy Minister of Corrections of Georgia, Mr Kakha Kakhishvili,  Ms Eva Pastrana from the EU Delegation to Georgia and Mr Givi Mikanadze from the Council of Europe Office in Georgia welcomed the participants and opened the course at the Penitentiary and Probation Training Centre (PPTC).

The training programme is the first of this kind of initiative in the Georgian penitentiary system. The Council of Europe assisted its development with the aim to improve the professionalism of the prison staff and support the national authorities’ efforts in reforming the penitentiary system.

After first group of new recruits successfully completed the course in January, the penitentiary administration already noted some positive results and requested the Project to organise a second round, in cooperation with the PPTC. This continued support will not only help in training additional staff but in strengthening the capacities of the PPTC and consolidating the training programme as part of the regular curricula.

The training course consists of five modules of theoretical and practical sessions, internships and mentoring. The participating new recruits will improve their knowledge and skills in the areas of legislation, international human rights standards, approaches in the prevention of ill-treatment and torture, detention procedures and safety measures as well as in basic psychological and medical issues. They will undergo physical trainings perform internships at different penitentiary establishments.  

The European Union/CoE Joint Programme “Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions” was launched in July 2013. It aims to strengthen human rights and improve access to healthcare for persons deprived of their liberty.