From September 1 to 6 2024 Ukraine’s prison system has taken center stage in a global conference in Singapore. At the Annual Conference of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) the Ukrainian delegation held a side event on September 2 focusing on the Ukrainian penitentiary system and the challenges it faces in the context of ongoing war.
The side event provided an overview of the Ukrainian penitentiary system, with a particular focus on the challenges posed by the conflict, including extensive destruction of correctional facilities.
Despite the ongoing war, the Ukrainian delegation, made up of two officials of the State Correctional Executive Service of Ukraine, Ms. Natalia Naulik and Mr. Yuriy Stetsenko, highlighted the ongoing improvement of conditions for inmates and the country’s commitment to penitentiary reform.
These reform efforts are supported by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through the ‘Penitentiary assistance in response to the armed conflict and related emergency needs in Ukraine’ (PACE.UA) Program, generously supported by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. This program aims to enhance the effectiveness, crisis preparedness and response capacity of the State Penitentiary Service while ensuring compliance with international and European prison standards.
The delegation shared best practices with international partners, including modern correctional programs and the digitalization of family contact services for prisoners. Additionally, they introduced plans to construct a new building of a detention center in Kyiv, incorporating international best practices. The Ukrainian representatives emphasized the need for cooperation with national and international experts, engagement with civil society, and improved training programs for prison staff.
The PACE.UA program will operate from April 2024 to December 2025. Find out more.