Dissemination of restorative justice ideas in the law enforcement and penitentiary systems by the “Space Without Conflict” Charitable Foundation. Second publication.

Throughout the implementation of the project, not only were resocialisation workshops and discussions conducted to help adolescents choose a new path in life, but social support was also provided after their release: assistance in finding work, improving family relationships, counselling, and psycho-correctional discussions.

Applications are still open for the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union anti-award “Burdock of the Year 2008”!

The annual Ukrainian anti-award “For the Most Shameful Violation of Human Rights in Ukraine” — “Burdock of the Year” — is an annual project of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.

Head of the Department is a lawbreaker

The court ruling recognising the actions of the Head of the State Department for the Execution of Sentences, V.V. Koshchynets, regarding the untimely provision of information, has come into force.

Notes from the SIZO

The SIZO is proud that since last year, equipment has been installed and is operating that allows for diagnosis in just a matter of minutes and the detection of diseases in the very early stages.

Penal System of Russia

As of 1 September 2008, there were 893,100 people held in institutions of the Penal System (UIS), including 734,900 in 758 correctional colonies, and 148,500 in 216 pre-trial detention centres, 7 prisons, and 164 facilities operating in SIZO mode.

The authorities have lost interest in prison staff

In Chernihiv, a round table was held on the topic “Ensuring the social and legal protection of penal system employees—a guarantee of observing the rights of convicts”.

Prisoners convicted their own ‘defender’

The Leninskyi District Court of Vinnytsia has satisfied the lawsuit of two prisoners of the Stryzhavka Correctional Colony (SVK) No. 81 against the head of the Vinnytsia Human Rights Group (VHP), Dmytro Hroisman.

Public oversight of prisons: an effective tool or a simulation of prisoner rights protection?

A press conference on this topic was held in Kyiv on 17 September at the “Ukrainian News” information agency. It was attended by journalists, representatives of non-governmental organisations, and representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the State Department for the Execution of Criminal Punishments.

Observatory commissions are being formed in Russia

Executive Director of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Nina Tagankina, has appealed to the leaders of Russian public organisations with a proposal to take an active part in forming supervisory commissions to exercise public oversight over the observance of human rights in places of detention.

Hunger strike in Zamkova Colony No. 58

Several convicts at Zamkova Colony No. 58 began a hunger strike a few days ago following a beating by staff.

THE FINAL OF THE REIN-RING GAME WILL TAKE PLACE IN KIROVOHRAD CORRECTIONAL COLONY NO. 6

Conducting actions, trainings, and various public events is becoming a good tradition of the correctional facility located within the city. This time, the initiators of the event were participants in the mutual aid group for HIV-infected prisoners.

Prosecutor’s office reports to human rights defenders on the investigation of torture cases

On 26 June, as part of the “Against Torture” campaign, the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union sent information to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine about facts of torture in all regions of Ukraine, which had been received and verified by human rights defenders. In August, the UHHRU began receiving responses.