OSCE Centre supports study visit to Latvia and Finland for Kyrgyzstan penitentiary officials

A study tour to Latvia and Finland for representatives of Kyrgyzstan’s penal enforcement body took place from 21 to 27 August 2011, organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek with support of the Permanent Mission of Finland to the OSCE. 

The visit provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and learn best international practices in areas including: treatment of life-term prisoners, providing services such as therapy, preventing corruption and cooperating with civil society. The delegation visited the central prison administrations and different penitentiary establishments in both countries. They also met representatives of non-governmental organizations involved in the independent monitoring of penitentiary facilities, experts on rule of law and penitentiary reforms and staff of the Ombudsperson’s Office in Latvia.

Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “The value of this visit is twofold. Firstly, it enables senior managers of the prison system in Kyrgyzstan to study management practices in two EU countries. Secondly, it allows EU counterparts to appreciate better the particular challenges facing the prison system in Kyrgyzstan. These two benefits form the basis for practical improvements within the context of prison reform in Kyrgyzstan, which has been supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek since 2008.”

Kalybek Kachkanaliev, the Deputy Head of the State Penal Enforcement System, added: “This tour gave us a unique opportunity to learn about the successful experience of the EU countries for its further adaptation and implementation in the Kyrgyz Republic. We also had a chance to share our experience and establish co-operation and channels for further interaction between our penitentiary institutions.”

The Permanent Mission of Finland to the OSCE financed the tour as part of its project to promote the rule of law in Kyrgyzstan’s penitentiary system.