Effective Partnership Promotes Prison Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic

Bishkek. May 2013. The Final Conference of the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) project "Support to Prison Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic" was held on 22 and 23 May 2013 in Bishkek. Project achievements were presented and evaluated by national and international partners during the event.

The main beneficiary of the project is the State Service on Execution of Punishments under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (Prison Service). "This project has provided valuable support to the Prison Service", said Zarylbek Rysaliev, Chairperson of the Prison Service. "Living conditions of more than 3000 detainees have been improved and employment opportunities provided to more than 160 prisoners through the establishment of new production facilities", he added.

"The project was implemented in close collaboration with the Prison Service and civil society, and serves as an example of effective partnership and cooperation", noted Ambassador Chantal Hebberecht, Head of the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic.

Participants of the conference formulated recommendations on follow up actions needed to advance prison reform in line with the National Strategy for the Development of the Prison System of the Kyrgyz Republic for the years 2012-2016.