A seminar was held in Chernihiv at the Department of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences

On 8 February, a seminar-meeting with representatives of religious and public organisations took place at the Chernihiv Department of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences.

On 8 February, in the assembly hall of the Department of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences in the Chernihiv region, a meeting was held with representatives of religious and public organisations that cooperate with penal institutions of the Chernihiv region, and members of the public council at the Chernihiv Department of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences.

Among those present at the seminar: representatives of the International Committee for the Protection of Human Rights—V.A. Kondratiuk, the charitable organisation ‘Chernihiv Women’s Human Rights Centre’—A.H. Lepekha, the International Charitable Foundation ‘Cornerstone’—A. Kondratiev, L. Shmil, the Chernihiv Rehabilitation and Mercy Centre ‘Christian House’—O.M. Veresotskyi, and others.

The seminar-meeting was chaired by the Head of the Department of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences in the Chernihiv region, V.I. Lopatin.

In such a format, as it happened on 8 February—over the last 8 years—such a meeting is the first. For the first time, representatives of religious and public organisations who were present in the hall expressed their vision of the ways of further cooperation with the penal institutions of the Chernihiv region, the openness of institutions to the public and religious organisations, the procedure for visiting institutions, work with convicts, and released persons. Special attention was emphasised on the need to protect the rights of the personnel of these institutions.

Central (ICTV) and regional media were present at the seminar-meeting.