Preventing torture and ill-treatment in detention facilities begin with monitoring conditions and keeping a watchful eye on them.
That was on the agenda for three days when DIGNITY conducted a training session for staff from the partner organizations Ukraine Without Torture, Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, and Protection of Prisoners of Ukraine, alongside employees from the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights.
Through both presentations and interactive exercises, 15 participants strengthened their knowledge of health monitoring in places of detention and developed practical skills in formulating recommendations.
»This training was an important step towards a closer collaboration with the Ukrainian Ombudsman. We now have a shared knowledge and together further developed our practices in how we monitor health in prisons, « says Andrii Didenko, monitor of Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
The three-day program was conducted by Senior Medical Officer Karin B. Hansen and Medical Director & Deputy Director of the Prevention & Accountability Department, Marie Brasholt.
»I have been part of the National Preventive Mechanism in Denmark for many years, and working with our Ukrainian partners for three days has been a unique opportunity to both share my own knowledge and exchange experiences to develop new approaches to monitoring visits in Ukraine, « says Marie Brasholt.
In addition to the training, an agreement on modalities for continued cooperation on preventive monitoring between DIGNITY, its partners, and representatives of the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights was also reached. This agreement will ensure an even stronger focus on the prevention of torture and ill-treatment in the coming years.
DIGNITY has worked in Ukraine since 2019. Together with partners, we focus on documenting international crimes, grave human rights violations and providing mental health support.
