Lasting change in the penitentiary system depends on both well-trained staff and the means to put new knowledge and skills into practice. Following successful capacity-building of penitentiary staff, the Council of Europe also reinforced their means by donating necessary IT equipment and software to key institutions within Ukraine’s penitentiary system.
Computer and multimedia equipment has been provided to 17 pilot prisons, enabling the effective delivery of three newly developed rehabilitation programmes: ‘Pathways to Hope’ for life-sentenced prisoners, a programme for individuals with substance use disorders, and a programme for those prone to self-harm and suicide.
Following specialised training for medical staff on the documentation of injuries, 92 photo cameras and computer equipment kits have been distributed to all medical units within the penitentiary system. This equipment is already being actively used, facilitating the standardised documentation of bodily injuries—a crucial step in identifying and preventing torture and ill-treatment in detention.
In response to humanitarian needs caused by the war of aggression, 30 computer units and 47 Push-To-Talk communication devices were delivered for the needs of prisoners and staff relocated from Bilenkivska correctional colony, restoring lost capacity and supporting internal coordination.
On 6 May 2026, a ceremonial handover marked the formal transfer of the equipment to its recipients, highlighting the project’s tangible contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s penitentiary system in line with international human rights standards.
The activity was implemented under the Council of Europe Project “Towards more humane detention conditions and reduced reoffending in Ukraine” (DECOPRIS).
European Prison Rules
