The Director General of the Special Penitentiary Service, Giorgi Pataridze, together with representatives of the Service and the Georgian Ministry of Justice, has met with Alan Mitchell, President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), who is currently on an official visit to Georgia.

According to the Special Penitentiary Service, the CPT delegation was provided with a comprehensive briefing on ongoing and planned reforms within the penitentiary system, covering the protection of the rights of remand prisoners and convicted persons, as well as available educational and vocational programmes.

“The meeting focused on the priority directions for the development of the penitentiary system, including the construction and development of smaller, modern facilities that meet contemporary standards, which will help foster more effective management and a rehabilitation-oriented environment for convicted persons. The parties also discussed measures already undertaken and upcoming plans to improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare within the penitentiary system. The parties noted that remand prisoners and convicted persons are provided with the medical care they require and, where necessary, have access to referral services at specialist civilian clinics.

The delegation’s visit is intended to assess conditions within penitentiary institutions and to familiarise its members with the reforms currently underway.

Both sides once again underscored the importance of developing the penitentiary system in accordance with international standards and upholding human rights,” the statement reads.