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

On 17 September at 15:00, a press conference by the human rights organisation “Donetsk Memorial” on the topic: “Public oversight of prisons: an effective tool or a simulation of prisoner rights protection?” will be held in the press centre of the “Ukrainian News” information agency.

Yanukovych in Volyn colonies – persona non grata?

The leadership of the Volyn Department of the State Department continues to impunity hinder public oversight of human rights compliance in penal institutions.

Stryzhavka colony to be inspected

First Vice-Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov has listened to the requests of human rights defenders and ordered a comprehensive inspection of Stryzhavka Correctional Colony No. 81 (Vinnytsia region). Statement by VPG.

What is allowed in Rivne is not allowed in Volyn

The leadership of the Volyn Department of the State Department continues to break the law with impunity. Another time this happened during the “Chervona Kalyna” festival.

Celebrating 1 September in the Chernihiv Women’s Colony

In the Chernihiv Women’s Colony, 1 September is also a holiday – convicted women will be studying at school.

Education behind bars

This year, on the first of September, the school bell will ring for 555 people who are serving sentences in correctional colonies or are being held in pre-trial detention centres in the Kherson region.

Volodymyr Pinkas – Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine

The Head of the Department of the State Penitentiary Service in the Kherson region, Volodymyr Pinkas, has been awarded the honorary title of 'Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine'.

Ideas of restorative justice in penitentiary institutions.

Throughout 2007–2008, the 'Space Without Conflict' Charitable Foundation, within the framework of the 'Development of Civil Society in Ukraine' project—implemented by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark—carried out the project 'Dissemination of restorative justice ideas within the system of law enforcement agencies and penitentiary institutions'.

New information on the 'Prison Portal' website

Detailed information about the correctional institutions of the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions has been posted on the 'Prison Portal' website in the 'Department Institutions' section.

The state must pay 2 million hryvnias for the lawlessness of law enforcement agencies

In two decisions by the Kharkiv court regarding the Kharkiv Region Prosecutor's Office, it was acknowledged that a confession of murder was obtained by the investigation through the use of abuse, systematic beatings, and torture of the suspects. Now, the state must pay 1 million hryvnias in moral damages to each of the two plaintiffs. The court decisions are listed in the 'Decisions of Ukrainian Courts' section of the 'Prison Portal'.

The 'Chervona Kalyna' festival was held at one of the educational colonies in the Lviv region

On the 2nd of August 2008, the XVII Festival of Amateur Artistic Creativity of Convicts, 'Chervona Kalyna', was held at the Sambir Educational Colony in the Lviv region, themed: 'The Creativity and Life of A. S. Makarenko'.

Celebration of Independence Day at a women's colony

On the 24th of August, on Independence Day, the 'Chernihiv Women's Human Rights Centre' charitable organisation joined the administration of the Chernihiv Correctional Colony No. 44 to organise and hold a summer sports tournament for the women serving sentences there.