By: Halyna Kokhan, Programme Officer, Ukraine Office
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) brought together senior Ukrainian penitentiary officials to discuss how successful human rights practices from Sweden and Finland can be adapted to strengthen Ukraine’s penitentiary system.
The meeting followed the study visit Human Rights in the Penitentiary System (25–29 May 2026), during which Ukrainian representatives visited Sweden and Finland to learn from Nordic approaches to human rights protection in places of detention. It brought together senior inspectors responsible for protecting the rights of convicted and detained persons and preventing torture, alongside representatives of the Department for the Execution of Criminal Sentences, regional penitentiary authorities and RWI.
Building on exchanges with Swedish and Finnish counterparts, participants reviewed concrete proposals for adapting successful Nordic approaches to the Ukrainian context and identified priorities for their implementation.
A central part of the meeting was the presentation of a proposed pilot initiative, “Right to Hope,” which aims to support the humane treatment and rehabilitation of persons serving life sentences. The proposal draws on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, including Petukhov v. Ukraine (No. 2), and the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. It also reflects practical approaches observed during the study visit, particularly the role of contact officers in Sweden and Finland, who combine dynamic security with individual planning, psychosocial support and preparation for eventual reintegration into society.
Participants also discussed a proposal to introduce multidisciplinary inspection teams for penitentiary institutions, inspired by Swedish and Finnish models of preventive monitoring. Rather than focusing primarily on disciplinary control, the proposed approach emphasises human rights compliance, risk assessment, institutional learning and the exchange of expertise between regions. The discussions highlighted the value of involving specialists from different disciplines and regions in inspection activities to strengthen consistency, transparency and institutional development across the penitentiary system.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for representatives of regional administrations to present their own recommendations on integrating Swedish and Finnish practices into Ukraine’s penitentiary system. These discussions reinforced the importance of adapting international experience to national legislation and operational realities while maintaining a strong focus on human rights and rehabilitation.
The event forms part of the continued cooperation between the State Criminal Executive Service of Ukraine and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute under the Human Rights Infrastructure for Ukraine (HRIU) Programme (2025–2027), funded by Sida. By facilitating peer-to-peer exchanges and supporting the practical adaptation of international standards, the programme contributes to Ukraine’s ongoing penitentiary reform as part of the country’s EU accession process and its broader efforts to align with European human rights standards.
Read more about RWI’s Ukraine programme here