The third All-Ukrainian
conference "Partnership of non-governmental organisations and State
Criminal-executive service of Ukraine
to respond to the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in the penitentiary
settings and among those released from prisons" took place in Puscha-Vodytsya, Kiev, on the 22-24 of
November, 2007.
The Conference was organised
by Coalition of HIV-service organizations jointly with the State Department for
Enforcement of Sentences, Ministry for Labour and Social policy of Ukraine, United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Movement to support former inmates,
Ukrainian Harm Reduction Association, Network of PLWHA, Swedish-Ukrainian Forum
SYD and International HIV/AIDS Alliance. More than 150 participants, including
representatives from State institutions, several Ministries and NGOs from
different regions of Ukraine,
have participated in that 3 day event.
Main goal of the conference
was to discuss the development of the national strategy, which aims to ensure continuity
of prevention and care measures of HIV and TB in penitentiary settings and for those released from prisons. The event was held as the follow-up of the
previous two conferences with the aim to track the achievements and to define
further strategies for building comprehensive HIV prevention system not only for
prisons, but in connection with public healthcare system.
Addressing the participants of
the conference Regional HIV/AIDS advisor for UNODC in Ukraine and Moldova
Dr.Zaza Tsereteli underlined that reducing the transmission of HIV in prisons
is an integral part of reducing the spread of infection in the broader society,
as any diseases contracted in prison, or any medical conditions made worse by
poor conditions of confinement, become issues of public health for the wider
society when people are released. UNODC is the custodian of the United Nations
Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and assists Ukraine in implementing
international standards and UN resolutions that demand that all inmates have
the right to receive health care, including HIV/AIDS prevention and care,
without discrimination and equivalent to those available in the community.
Among key issues discussed
during the Conference there were:
- Coordination of the effort between Penitentiary department, state social services, NGOs and grassroots organisations of former inmates in order to provide social support for
those released from prison;
- Social and medical follow up for persons released from prisons and diagnosed with
HIV and TB;
- Expansion of treatment, care and support in prisons;
- Engagement of persons released from prisons in
implementation of preventive and treatment activities;
- Community mobilisation models for social support and prevention activities in prisons.
As a result of 3 days
conference, a range of recommendations towards State Department for Enforcement
of Sentences and several Ministries were developed. Those recommendations are covering issues
related to legislation review, scale up of the prevention and treatment efforts,
social service provision and community mobilisation, as well as the alignment
and coordination of action between the involved parties.
For more information please
contact Dr. Zaza Tsereteli,
Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor for UNODC in Ukraine
and Moldova.
E-mail:
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