Production of Soya Milk, Bread and Textiles Starts in Kyrgyz Prisons

Bishkek. July/August 2012. The Kyrgyz Prison Service has recently launched a series of income generating activities in two of its prisons. A soya milk production line and a sowing workshop have been established in Prison No.2. A modernized bakery is now operational in Prison No. 3.

"The development of vocational training and work opportunities is a key priority of our new prison reform strategy", said Mr. Kalmurat Baitoloev, Deputy Chairperson of the State Service for the Execution of Punishments.

 

In 2011, 13% of all prisoners were engaged in productive work, up from 7.4% in 2007.

The workshops for soya milk, bread and textile production have been set up in accordance with business plans worth a total of 11 million Som. These business plans were approved by an Expert Group on Prison Income Generating Activities, which was created in 2010 within the framework of the EU/UNODC project 'Support to Prison Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic'.

"With the support of the project, construction materials, furniture and equipment have been procured for the creation of the production facilities", noted Ambassador Chantal Hebberecht, Head of the European Union Delegation to Kyrgyzstan. "The launch of these new income generating activities will contribute to realizing our common goal to improve conditions in places of detention and promote social rehabilitation", she added.

Official launch ceremonies of the income generating activities took place on 18 July 2012 in female prison No. 2 and on 29 August 2012 in prison No. 3.

The project 'Support to Prison Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic' aims to assist the Kyrgyz Government to reform its penitentiary system at legislative, policy and management levels, so as to improve the treatment of prisoners and contribute to their social reintegration. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Kyrgyzstan.

For additional information, please contact:

Vera Tkachenko, International Project Manager

European Union/UNODC project "Support to Prison Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic"
tel. 32 17 32 m.0555 5787912
E-mail: vera.tkachenko@unodc.org