Kyrgyz prison staff visit Poland on OSCE Centre-supported study tour

BISHKEK, 18 May 2009 - A group of prison system representatives from the Kyrgyz Justice Ministry traveled to Poland today for a one-week study visit on penitentiary system reform supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

During the visit, Polish and Kyrgyz officials will discuss penitentiary system reform and sign a co-operation agreement.

"Support to Kyrgyzstan in penitentiary system reform remains one of the priorities of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek," said Oleg Semenenko, the Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre. "Poland is interesting and relevant to Kyrgyzstan because it succeeded in reforming its prison system swiftly and effectively."

The Kyrgyz delegation, headed by Aibek Turganbaev, Chief of the Kyrgyz Prison Administration, will learn about the functioning of the Polish prison system and European prison standards. They will visit five types of penitentiary institutions.

The agenda focuses on penitentiary management, including prison staff training; security and safety; treatment of different inmate groups, including women; school, sport and cultural activities for prisoners; treatment of drug and alcohol addicts; the role of social workers and psychologists, and drug abuse prevention.

The study tour will also include a visit to the offices of the Polish Parliament and Ombudsman. In addition, participants will take part in a course on international human rights standards in prisons organized by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights.

The tour is part of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek's prison reform programme. The Polish Prison Service, the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and the Collegium of Eastern Europe contributed financial and technical support.