On November 19–20, 2024, a regional consultation was held in Yerevan, organized by the Eurasian Movement for the Right to Health in Prisons with the support of the Robert Carr Fund. The event focused on the reform of penitentiary healthcare systems in the EECA region. It brought together representatives of the Ministries of Health, Ministries of Internal Affairs, penitentiary systems, and their healthcare services from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Ukraine.
A key highlight of the program was an in-depth examination of Armenia’s experience as the first country in the region to fully delegate the responsibility for penitentiary healthcare to the Ministry of Health. Participants discussed Armenia’s reform steps in detail and evaluated the potential for adapting these solutions in their respective countries. Representatives from Kazakhstan shared their extensive experience in reform implementation. Delegates from Moldova and Ukraine had the opportunity to analyze the experience of their peers’ and take into account their successes and challenges for further implementation of the reform in their countries.
The programalso included a visit to the Almavir penitentiary institution, providing participants with practical insights into the outcomes of the reforms. We express our gratitude to all participants for their active engagement and meaningful contributions. We firmly believe that collective efforts will expedite the realization of the right to health for individuals in penitentiary institutions throughout the region.