State Secretary Juro Martinović participated in the International Penitentiary Forum held in Kiev from 20 to 21 June.
The central topic of the Forum was the organisation of the prison system in a state of war and the exchange of experience and good practices in improving the prison system.
State Secretary Martinović pointed out that Croatia had the experience of organising the operation of the prison system in a war, which required a reorganisation of the system and strengthening of security aspects both during the war and in the post-war period.
He reiterated the readiness of the Republic of Croatia to support Ukraine in establishing a better quality prison system and strengthening the probation service.
“Even in peaceful conditions, working in a prison is one of the most demanding jobs in general. In a state of war, the organisation of the work of the prison system is far more complex, in terms of not only organisation but also security. A safe prison does not only mean a wall and surveillance, but also professional work, communication, fairness and consistency in the protection of human rights", the State Secretary highlighted.
In his opening address, he emphasised the importance of training prison staff and offered cooperation through the exchange of experience and knowledge between Ukrainian and Croatian Training Centres.
On the sidelines of the Forum, the State Secretary met with Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska. They discussed the continuation of cooperation in the field of justice and exchange of experience in war crimes prosecution, strengthening of the prison system and probation service, and the upcoming Workshop on War Crimes Investigation and Prosecution, which will take place in Zagreb at the end of June.
The State Secretary reiterated the strong political support of Croatia for the Ukrainian people.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olena Vysotska, Head of Department for International Cooperation and Protocol Yaroslav Novosolov and Croatian Ambassador to Ukraine Anica Djamić, as well as Advisor to the Minister of Justice and Public Administration of the Republic of Croatia Matija Paljug.
During the visit to Ukraine, the Croatian delegation also visited the pre-trial detention facility in Kiev.
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