The Cabinet of Ministers has improved the mechanism for public control over the observance of the rights of convicts

The Cabinet of Ministers has brought its own resolution of 1 April 2004, on the approval of the regulation on supervisory commissions, into compliance with the requirements of current legislation. In particular, the resolution has been harmonised with the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Amending the Criminal Executive Code of Ukraine Regarding the Ensuring of the Rights of Convicted Persons in Penal Institutions”.

As Minister of Justice Oleksandr Lavrynovych reported, the amendments to the government resolution were developed by the Ministry of Justice. In particular, the new version of the regulation on supervisory commissions defines a clear procedure for the formation and composition of supervisory commissions.

Furthermore, in accordance with the amendments, members of supervisory commissions have been granted the right to visit penal institutions without special permits.

The amendments to the resolution also establish a duty for supervisory commissions to inform the public through the mass media about the results of their work and the state of observance of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the legitimate interests of convicts during the execution of criminal sentences, etc.

As the Minister of Justice emphasised, the goal of the introduced changes is to improve the organisation of public control over the observance of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the legitimate interests of convicts and persons released from serving sentences. In addition, the practical implementation of the new provisions should contribute to ensuring the process of correction and resocialisation of convicts and the creation of proper conditions for their detention by the bodies and institutions of the penal system.

Press Service of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine