On 20 May the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia (MoC)  launched the psychosocial rehabilitation programme ”Atlantis” in two prisons of Georgia.

The programme “Atlantis” (12 steps) supports convicts dependent on psychoactive substances in their rehabilitation. Those involved in the programme are lead through 12 stages of the rehabilitation process, starting from acknowledging drug (substance) dependence and leading to full recovery. It has been piloted in several penitentiary establishments since 2005, but has not been systematically introduced. Recognising its initial success and importance, it has been included in the Penitentiary Healthcare Strategy for 2014-2017.

For the purposes of institutionalizing the programme, the CoE, within the framework of the European Union/CoE joint programme “Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions, assisted with drafting the legal acts and instructions necessary for the systemic introduction of the programme. The representatives of the Ministry of Corrections and its departments, Penitentiary and Probation Training Centre and non-governmental organisations took an active part in it. Also, psychologists and social workers from penitentiary institutions, probation service and a civil organisation “Tanadgoma (18 participants in total) have been prepared to implement the programme through a 10 day training course. 

The programme is sought to be extended in other penitentiary establishments as well.

The Project is financed by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe under the Programmatic Cooperation Framework for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus.