The programme is a follow-up to and builds on the results of the EU/CoE Joint Programme on “Human right and healthcare in prisons and other closed institutions” that finished in February 2016. The Project assists the Georgian authorities in consolidating the results achieved in previous years in the areas of provision of healthcare services in prisons and in police detention facilities as well as in addressing remaining challenges in the protection of human rights of people deprived of their liberty in prisons, police and other closed institutions. Wide range of activities are envisaged in the Project such as provision of expertise, technical assistance in developing the regulatory and policy framework and design of management and monitoring tools, assessment visits and country-specific studies, development of training programmes, materials and publications and organisation of various learning and awareness raising events (training sessions, conferences, workshops, etc.) as well as peer-to-peer exchanges.

The duration of the Project is 18 months and it is expected to be completed by 31 August 2017. The overall project budget is EUR 745,000 funded by the European Union, co-funded by the Council of Europe, under the auspices of the EU/CoE Programmatic Co-operation Framework in the Eastern Partnership countries.

Retour Continuing support to address the COVID-19 crisis

Continuing support to address the COVID-19 crisis

In order to address the COVID-19 pandemic and to respond to the needs of providing support to inmates and prison staff, the Council of Europe donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Special Penitentiary Service (SPS) of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia (MoJ) and the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia (PDO).

In total, 1550 face protective shields, 1800 disposable medical gowns, 1800 disposable medical caps, 1600 face masks, 500 disposable medical gloves, 300 disposable shoe covers, 50 litres of hand sanitizer and 50 litres of disinfectant liquid was handed over to the SPS and PDO. 

This is the second similar support provided within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Enhancement of Human Rights and Health-Care Support to Penitentiary Service” in Georgia, which is designed to support the further improvement of healthcare services within the penitentiary system, with a special focus on mental healthcare. The first donation was made to the SPS in May 2020, responding to the emergency of the COVID-19 crisis.

The donation was built on the efforts of the Georgian penitentiary system and the ombudsman to follow the CPT statement of principles issued on 20 March 2020 for the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in accordance with the World Health Organization guidelines. It assisted authorities in addressing COVID-19 crisis and improved the protection of the human rights of inmates.
19 February 2021
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Project objectives

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the respect for human rights and improve the access of people kept in prisons, police detention and other closed facilities in Georgia to health care (including mental care) services. More specifically it aims to:

1.         Improve the provision of healthcare services in prisons and police detention facilities in Georgia.

2.         Improve the regulatory framework that guides the treatment of prisoners with mental health problems and people in psychiatric care in line with international standards and enhance  relevant operational practices.

3.         Strengthen preventive capacities and measures for the observance of human rights of detained people and improve internal and external oversight of places of detention, including psychiatric institutions.

Project partners

The Project is implemented in close cooperation and partnership with the Ministry of Corrections, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, the Public Defender’s Office and the Ministry of Justice. It also includes a wider group of stakeholders who contribute to the overall improvement of human rights situation and healthcare of people detained in Georgia, such as independent experts, human rights defenders and other civil society organisations, academia and international organisations.

Expected results

- Improved access for inmates and detainees to health care services which meet minimum quality standards;

- Improved treatment of prisoners with mental health and people in psychiatric care in accordance with European and other international standards;

- Enhanced preventive measures for the observance of human rights and strengthened internal and external oversight of places of detention, including psychiatric care.

Photo Stories - Human rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions

The joint EU/CoE programme launched in July 2013 aimed to strengthen human rights and improve the provision of healthcare (including mental health care) in prisons, police detention and other closed facilities.

We collected those fascinating photos that represent the project support of national authorities on aligning the regulatory framework and practices with European Standards.

50 main group of activities were carried out under and more than 3,200 people benefitted from some type of learning opportunity, including staff of penitentiary administration and training institution, Ministry of Internal Affairs, psychiatric establishments, public defender's office and national preventive mechanism, judges, prosecutors as well as members of the civil society and the 60 local trainers trained. The Project supported the national authorities in aligning the regulatory framework and practices with the European standards.

The second phase of the project was launched in March 2016.

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