A study visit to Sweden for six high-level representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Penitentiary Department of the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia was organised from 13-17 June 2016.

The aim of the visit was to acquire first-hand knowledge about the legal and institutional framework of Swedish prison healthcare services, capacity building activities for medical and non-medical staff working in prisons, as well as material conditions of prison infirmaries. The participants got acquainted with good practices and experiences from the following institutions: Swedish Prison and Probation Service Office, Salberga Prison, Sala Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Probation Office Fridhemsplan Stockholm, RPÖV and Helix Dispensary Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Hall Prison and Remand Prison Kronoberg. The Deputy Minister of Justice had also fruitful meetings with the Minister of Justice of Sweden and the Director General of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service Office.

The study visit facilitated the exchange of views and transfer of knowledge among different national stakeholders with the aim to support implementation of ongoing penitentiary reforms in Armenia.

The event was organised within the Project “Strengthening health care and human rights protection in prisons in Armenia”, funded under EU/CoE Programmatic Cooperation Framework (PCF) for the Eastern Partnership Countries.

Report on the Assessment Mission on Healthcare in Prisons in the Republic of Armenia June/July 2015