United Nations Peacebuilding Fund Supports Rehabilitation Programs in Prisons of Kyrgyzstan
27 January 2021
The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is providing support to the State Prison Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to develop and promote comprehensive prison rehabilitation programme. The activities under the rehabilitation programme range from providing psychological and social service, promoting educational and sports events, enhancing vocational skills and employment opportunities, and enhancing access to legal assistance. The program is designed to contribute to reduce vulnerability to violent extremism, prevent radicalization to violence in prisons and probation settings.
As part of an effort to improve the rehabilitation programme's effectiveness, the PBF has supported the establishment of a Call Centre in the State Prison Service to increase access to information for the prisoners and their families. The Call Centre receives about 50 phone calls and about 20 peer visits every day. The specialists of the Centre provide any prison-related information, including legal aid to prisoners’ family members, defence advocates and society. Five employees of the State Prison Service are engaged in providing the services which allows the prisoners get related information in time.
The Center promotes regular communication between prisoners and their families by providing relevant information, organizing visits or passing messages to a prisoner, etc. The Center's specialists also provide legal advice to family members and their representatives. The center acts as a bridge between prisoners and the public.
More broadly, the Project promotes implementation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (“the Nelson Mandela Rules”) and the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders ('the Bangkok Rules') with particular attention for prison management in full compliance with international human rights norms and standards, including the rights to freedom of movement, freedom of expression and privacy, gender equality and the principle of non-discrimination.
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