OSCE organizes study visit to Poland for Georgian penitentiary officials

TBILISI, 7 August 2007 - Georgian Penitentiary Department officials completed a study visit to Poland, organized by the OSCE Mission.

During the five-day trip, the Head of the Penitentiary Department, Bacho Akhalaia, and his two colleagues, met with counterparts in the Polish penitentiary establishments to examine the Polish model of reform and implementation.

"The OSCE is glad to contribute to the Georgian Government's reform efforts to implement international standards in the penitentiary system," said Miroslaw Nowak, an OSCE penitentiary expert.

"The Georgian delegation particularly focused on the Polish model of physiological care of inmates, including treatment of women and prisoners with substance-abuse addictions."

The Georgian officials also visited various penitentiary establishments to examine recreational, working and studying facilities for the inmates and the security systems in the different types of prisons.