Kazakhstan’s requst for GF funding for 2024-2026 allocation period includes an intervention to provide support to women prisoners who use drugs (hereinafter – WPWUD).
According to statistics as of 2022, the prevalence of HIV among male inmates was 4%, while in female prisons, this figure reached 7%. Based on this, WPWUD are currently more vulnerable to HIV compared to men.
The intervention involves conducting training sessions on release from correctional facilities 2 months before their release. These sessions will be conducted by NGO’s staff, along with a psychologist, social worker, and lawyer, to provide social support in various areas.
The NGO’s services to imprisoned women will be provided based on a “peer-to-peer” approach. It means that a female outreach worker with a history of imprisonment and drug use will be available to offer individual consultations and necessary social support.
It is expected that this intervention will strengthen efforts to contain the spread of socially dangerous diseases in closed facilities.