OSCE Centre holds training course on psychological and social counselling for Kyrgyz Prison Service staff

BISHKEK, 12 October 2009 - A training course supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek for 25 social workers and psychological counsellors in Kyrgyz penitentiary establishments started today. 

The two-week course, which is implemented by the Training Centre for Prison Personnel of Justice Ministry's Chief Penitentiary Department, includes such themes as preventing and resolving conflicts, reducing aggression, treating aggressive and vulnerable prisoners and psychological care of inmates, as well as diagnosis and risk assessment in psychological work, preparing inmates for release and preventing recidivism.

"The OSCE Centre in Bishkek seeks to support the improvement of conditions for both detainees and their warders in Kyrgyzstan. As part of this approach, the OSCE Centre is offering this course to foster the prevention and resolution of conflict situations in prisons, to alleviate aggression and to provide better social and psychological help to inmates," said Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, Head of the Centre.

Aibek Turganbaev, the Head of the Chief Penitentiary Department of the Kyrgyz Justice Ministry, added: "This training course is essential because psychological counselling is a new service in our penitentiary establishments. Psychological services that reflect best practices in the field are important and vital for our staff."

The activity was organized as part of an OSCE Centre project on resolving and preventing conflicts in penitentiary institutions.