Enhancement of Human Rights and Health-Care Support to Penitentiary System in Georgia
The Project builds upon the results achieved from the implementation of the previous CoE actions in Georgia, namely the EU-CoE JP “Human rights and healthcare in prisons and other closed institutions in Georgia” implemented in two phases between 2010-2017, and the VC project “Improving mental health care of persons detained in Georgia” implemented during 2018-2019. The previous projects supported to develop mental health care policies in prisons and other closed institutions and to improve the prison staff’ knowledge and skills to handle mental health-related issues better.
The current Project will assist the Special Penitentiary Service (Ministry of Justice) of Georgia in further improvement of healthcare services within the penitentiary system with a particular focus on mental healthcare.
It will also assist development and application of treatment of drug and alcohol addictions while strengthening of harm-reduction approach.
attention will be paid to the continuation of the suicide prevention programmes and training for the psychologists and medical personnel employed in the system.
The Project offers targeted solutions to:
- the improved access of inmates to quality psychiatric care and treatment programmes;
- establishment of an effective quality internal control mechanism on the provision of health care.
This Project will be implemented within 24 months, with an overall budget of 600 000 Euros financed by the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2016-2019.
Updated Monitoring Tool to Address Drug Addictions in Georgian prisons
A two-day working group (WG) meeting was held on 24-25 February 2022 to support the update of the National Preventive Mechanism’s (NPM) Monitoring Tool to address drug addictions in penitentiary institutions in Georgia. The WG meeting was attended by representatives from the Public Defender’s...
Training on tailored approaches for prisoners with emotional and mental health problems in Georgia
On 18-19 February 2022, a 2-day training session was held for the staff of the Monitoring Department of the Special Penitentiary Service on tailored approaches, communication strategies and interviewing techniques in relation to prisoners who are under stress or have emotional or mental health...
Training to prevent professional burnout in the penitentiary system in Georgia
On 4 October 2021, a cascade training session for penitentiary staff on preventing and addressing professional burnout was launched in Georgia. 24-hour shifts and other working conditions inherent to the penitentiary environment put prison staff at a high risk of professional burnout. In turn,...
Support to National Authorities: Review of the Suicide Prevention Programme
On 4 March 2021, an online meeting took place with the representatives of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Special Penitentiary Service (SPS). The objective of the meeting was to discuss the Suicide Prevention Programme (SPP) and its Action Plan, to review the findings and recommendations for...
Project on Health-care and Human Rights in Georgia
Support to the National Preventive Mechanism: Tailored Training Needs Assessment
On 2 March 2021, an online meeting took place with the representatives of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia (PDO) and the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The objective of the meeting was to discuss the Training Needs Assessment (TNA) methodology designed for the NPM staff and members...
Georgia: Additional donation of personal equipment: protecting staff and inmates
In response to the beneficiaries’ requests, the Project donated an additional lot of personal protective equipment to the Special Penitentiary Service (SPS) of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia (PDO). The additional donation of 1550 face protective...
Human Rights and Healthcare Support to Penitentiary System in Georgia: First Steering Committee meeting
The first Steering Committee meeting of the Council of Europe Project on “Enhancement of Human Rights and Healthcare Support to Penitentiary System in Georgia” took place on 6 October 2020 in Tbilisi. Aimed at taking stock of the latest developments in healthcare in the penitentiary system in...
Support to the Special Penitentiary Service to combat the COVID-19 pandemic
Responding to the emergency of COVID-19 crisis and to the need of providing support to inmates and prison staff, Council of Europe donated, on 6 May 2020, the necessary protective equipment to the Special Penitentiary Service (SPS) of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia (MoJ). In total, 6 500...