Representatives from around thirty member nations of the European Penitentiary Training Academies (EPTA) are attending an international conference, launched in Tbilisi by Justice Minister Rati Bregadze.

Issues related to practice development and education in the penitentiary system are the focus of the conference.

The Minister emphasised in his remarks the role that the penitentiary system plays in maintaining national security as well as public law and order.

Among the successful initiatives he discussed were “Digital University” for Prisoners, Employed Prisoners and Re-Market, and Georgian Innovation – Houses of Justice in Penitentiary Institutions.

Additionally, Bregadze talked about the significance of the Penitentiary Code, which establishes “special conditions” for both workers and prisoners.

“The state’s attitude towards human rights can be best measured by the situation in penitentiary institutions, and the Penitentiary Code creates truly special conditions, as well as assists employees, improves their social conditions, to execute sentences with full protection of human rights,” said the Minister of Justice.