AKIPRESS.COM - Representatives of law enforcement bodies and prison officials from across Turkmenistan discussed the principles and ethics of penitentiary staff at an OSCE-organized training course that concluded in Ashgabat today.

The four-day training course was organized to support the host government’s efforts in building the capacity of penitentiary staff by upgrading their knowledge and understanding of international standards related to the prisoners’ rights as well as professional standards regarding the treatment of inmates.

“An essential part of the penitentiary staff’s job is awareness of the rights and duties of prisoners,” noticed Head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat Ivo Petrov.

The training course highlighted the main international instruments addressing the rights of prisoners and how to implement them in the daily work of prison staff. Two international experts elaborated on the right to the physical and moral integrity of inmates, treatment of prisoners who are under stress or depression, the right to adequate life conditions and respect for private and family life as well as the right to the freedom of thought, conscience and belief.

The course laid special emphasis on the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the code of ethics and professional conduct of penitentiary staff, as well as objectives and rights of the prison staff. Participants examined international experience in prison oversight and penal management systems and exchanged views on challenges in the prison system and on the role of specialized training for prison staff.