BISHKEK (TCA) — The Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP) on September 26 officially handed over the building of the Rehabilitation and Social Adaptation Centre “Clean zone” based at the correctional institution #2. In the only female correctional institution in Kyrgyzstan located in Stepnoye village, the construction of the “Clean zone” for convicted women who made a choice to quit using psychoactive substances, has been completed.
High level representatives of the State Penitentiary Service, the Prime Minister’s office, EU and the international organizations’ representatives took part in the handover ceremony.
“With the support of the European Union, the ‘clean zone’ helps to improve the treatment and rehabilitation facilities available within the female prison. The provision of this comprehensive package of measures for drug users makes the female colony in Kyrgyzstan one of the most advanced in Central Asia,” said Mr. Raimonds Vingris, Head of Political, Press and Information Section of the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, addressing the participants of the handover ceremony.
In a living block designed to accommodate 30 people, the trained staff — social workers and psychologists — will work with the inmates. With the support of CADAP, a living block with classrooms, a gym, a dining room, and a small sewing room have been refurbished and equipped. Also, a checkpoint and a greenhouse have been constructed. A video surveillance system, computers, sewing machines and furniture were provided for the Centre. The engineering and construction works started in 2016. The cost of construction and equipment is about 150 thousand Euro.
CADAP 6 supports the so-called “Atlantis” drug treatment programmes in the prison system in Kyrgyzstan. The “Clean Zones” and “Atlantis” centres were introduced within the CADAP previous phases with the EU financial support. Trained professionals from the public health system, social workers and psychologists work with patients. Clients come to the Clean Zone subject to their agreement to give up all drug abuse and to undergo regular screening to confirm they remain free of drugs. The centre is located in a separate building, which is equipped and supplied to carry out rehabilitation.
CADAP 6 represents continuity of the EU policy and long-term engagement with Central Asian partners to help further strengthen their national strategies in drug supply and drug demand reduction policies. The programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Consortium from the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Poland and Germany, led by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
