Ukraine partners with UNODC in implementing the PACE.UA Programme to support Prison Services

In April 2024, UNODC in close collaboration with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and with the generous support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, initiated a new programme aimed at enhancing the effectiveness, crisis preparedness and response capacity of the State Penitentiary Service while ensuring compliance with international and European prison standards.

This initiative, named the Penitentiary Assistance in Response to the Armed Conflict and Emergency Needs in Ukraine (PACE.UA), will operate from April 2024 to December 2025 in partnership with the state counterparts, civil society organizations and various international and national partners. The official launch of the PACE.UA took place on 24 April 2024 during a joint meeting involving the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the Department for the Execution of Criminal Punishment and the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine. 

Derived from assessments conducted during 2023 and feedback gathered from government officials, civil society organizations, and subject matter experts, UNODC conducted a series of engagements in 2023 to provide support to the Ukrainian government, shaping the foundation of the PACE.UA Programme.

Navigating challenges and managing emergencies in prisons

The negative impact of the ongoing war severely deteriorates prison conditions and hinders the State Penitentiary Service’s ability to ensure continued security, safety and essential provision, aggravated by the critical shortages of energy, heating, water supplies and essential items such as generators, clothing, bedding, sanitary items and medical supplies. During the launch ceremony, national counterparts reaffirmed the urgent need to mitigate the war’s severe effects on prisons, their management and the treatment of prisoners and probation clients. They highlighted the imperative for institutional capacity-building in the Penitentiary and Probation Services to support the Ministry of Justice in harmonising its practices with international and European standards, ensuring effective implementation of the emergency relief measures and crisis preparedness.

In response to these pressing national, the PACE.UA Programme is dedicated to strengthening the operational capacity, crisis responsiveness and compliance of the State Penitentiary Service with the Nelson Mandela Rules. A Joint Action Plan for the implementation of the programme was signed, outlining the following objectives:

• Aligning the State Penitentiary Service operations with international and European standards for the treatment of prisoners, and 
• Strengthening the institutional resilience of the State Penitentiary Service to proactively address and swiftly respond to existing and potential future disruptions and other emergency requirements in prisons

Ms. Olena Vysotska, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, embraced the new initiative designed to support Ukraine’s penitentiary system during armed conflict and commented:

“The penitentiary system of Ukraine has been significantly affected over the past two years and requires immediate action for restoration and future development. We urgently need highly specialized expertise to assist us in achieving our shared goal of ensuring the protection of human rights. We greatly appreciate the support of UNODC and the Government of Germany, and we extend our best wishes for the success of the future programme.”

Ms. Harsheth Virk, Head of the UNODC Programme Office for Ukraine acknowledged the Ministry of Justice's commendable efforts in the penitentiary sphere, underscoring the significance of addressing the unique challenges and security threats in the context of armed conflict and emergencies. Emphasizing the program's comprehensive approach to addressing  these obstacles through capacity-building activities, rehabilitation efforts, and infrastructure improvements, she noted:

“This new program represents the culmination of our collaborative efforts over the past year, and UNODC is delighted to have this opportunity to support the Ukrainian government in the area of penitentiary reform.”

Ms. Virk thanked the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for their support and expressed confidence that the programme will enhance the institutional capacity of Ukraine's penitentiary system to go through the challenging times and effectively address emergency requirements in prisons.

"In the face of unexpected circumstances, the implementation of the Nelson Mandela Rules demands resilience. However, with the collective support and collaboration of our national and international partners, we hold steadfast confidence in achieving success and making a positive change," Yevhen Silic and Galyna Zhytnyk (Prison Service of Ukraine).