An exhibition of works by convicted minors will open at the Ukrainian House

On 23 July, an exhibition of works by convicted minors will open at the Ukrainian House in Kyiv within the framework of the project “Protection of the rights of at-risk children: a drawing competition among minors in penal institutions”.

This was announced at a press conference at UNIAN by the Chairman of the Board of the “Euroclub ‘Law and Protection’” and project director, Volodymyr BRUSHCHENKO.

According to him, since October 2009, the non-governmental organisation “Euroclub ‘Law and Protection’”, with the financial support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives and the assistance of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences, has launched the project “Protection of the rights of at-risk children: a drawing competition among minors in penal institutions”.

V. BRUSHCHENKO emphasised that the aim of the project was an attempt to unite the idea of human rights protection and creativity. “We tried to give children the opportunity to tell about themselves in the form of a drawing, but not just to tell, but to do so in such a way that it would be useful for the convicted persons themselves,” he noted.

Also, the purpose of the competition is: to protect the rights of minor wards of penal institutions by providing them with the opportunity to integrate into socially acceptable structures through the discovery of their creative potential; to increase the quality of penitentiary education for minors in colonies; to ensure the observance of the rights of children and young people who have been released from places of deprivation of liberty, in particular, the rights to social protection and an adequate standard of living; to form a constructive attitude in the public towards minors who are prone to deviant and delinquent behaviour; to promote a positive attitude towards convicted minors, which will ensure the integration of such minors and young people into society and, accordingly, will allow the youth environment to develop stably by reducing the crime rate.

V. BRUSHCHENKO reported that 500 applications were received for the competition from 10 colonies, but the jury received 85 competition works.

According to V. BRUSHCHENKO, a charity auction will be held during the exhibition at the Ukrainian House. All funds raised will be transferred to the contestants’ personal accounts, and they will be able to use them after their release.

First Secretary of the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine Guillaume LEGROS emphasised that this project is interesting and unique, as it is aimed at integrating young people deprived of liberty into life.

Head of the Department for Organising the Activities of Educational Colonies and Resocialisation of Women of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences, Valerii KALIVOSHKO, noted that the majority of convicted children come from dysfunctional families or are even orphans, so such projects are very important so that children can feel like individuals.