Further Support to the penitentiary reform in Azerbaijan

This 24-month project is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the main project partners, namely the Penitentiary Service and the Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan and other national stakeholders interested in penitentiary reform.

With this Joint Project the Council of Europe will assist the Azerbaijani authorities in the process of enhancing human rights protection of sentenced persons in Azerbaijan in line with the Council of Europe standards, in particular those of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).

The JP SPERA-2 focuses on three areas:

effective prison management,
the provision of healthcare in prisons and
the reintegration of prisoners in line with European standards and best practices. This component involves the participation of civil society actors.

The JP SPERA-2 has an overall project budget of EUR 773 940 co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Project documentation

Useful information

Projects news

Back Support to the Azerbaijani prison system to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

@ Council of Europe

The Council of Europe continues assisting its member states in responding to the emergency of COVID-19 crisis and to the need of providing support to inmates and prison staff.

On 25 June 2020, Council of Europe donated the necessary protective equipment to the Penitentiary Service and Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan.

In total, 3000 single-use masks, 100 special clothing sets, 20 hand disinfectants and 15 remote thermometers were handed over while a second delivery of FFP2 respirators, protective glasses, nebulisers, surface disinfectants and gloves are expected in the coming weeks.

This activity was organized within the framework of the EU and Council of Europe Joint Project entitled “Support to the Penitentiary Reform in Azerbaijan” (JP SPERA 2), which is designed to promote effective prison management, health care in prisons and assist the reintegration of ex-offenders.

Azerbaijan 29 June 2020