The project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNODC, aims at assisting with the implementation of the Rule of Law in Kyrgyzstan with focus on one of the most problematic justice institutions in the country, which is the prison service.

The project is made up of the following mutually reinfocing components: reform of the legal/normative basis and relevant strategy for prison reform and alternatives to imprisonment; building the management capacity of the prison service with training and support to the training centre of the Main Service of Execution of Penalties (GSIN);  developing policy and program to generate additional income for the prison service and improving the social reintegration prospects of prisoners, and the implementation of the program in pilot prison colonies; and  improving the physical conditions in selected prisons. The project with a total budget of  2,7 mln. EURO will be implemented in a period of 3 years.

The main direction in project implementation were discussed between UNODC experts and the Management of the Main Service of Execution of Penalties at the meeting on 9 March in Bishkek. Mr. Aibek Turganbaev, Chairman of GSIN expressed gratitude to the European Union and UNODC for the support of national efforts in reforming penitentiary system. The meeting was instrumental in identifying priority action to be taken up in coming months as well as on general mechanisms of implementation of a project with such scale and impact.

The meeting between EU delegation in Kyrgyzstan  (H.E. Ms. Chantal Hebberecht, Ambassador,  Head of delegation, Ms. Colombe de Mercey, Attachee) and UNODC (Mr. Jens Eric Sundby, Regional Representative ad interim in Central Asia, Ms. Tomris Atabay, Criminal Justice Expert and Ms. Zhuldyz Akisheva, Project Coordinator) took place the next day to discuss and agree on project  implementation modalities.