Kumanovo, 13 December 2023 (MIA) - The 220 inmates of the Kumanovo Prison will benefit from the new bakery oven, and some 90 children will be able to use the children’s corner when visiting their parents and family members, the Council of Europe said on Wednesday.

The bakery equipment and the children’s corner, with a total value of more than €17,000 were provided under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, and its action “Strengthening the capacities of the penitentiary system in North Macedonia”, in close co-operation with the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions, and the Kumanovo Prison, which contributed by artistically painting the children’s corner.

Steffen Hudolin, Head of Co-operation at the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, noted that the improvement of the prison management and supervision, as well as the professionalization of the staff, should be a priority, together with the provision of adequate healthcare and fight against any type of ill-treatment. “This inauguration comes as a result of a fruitful co-operation with the prison authorities of North Macedonia, towards building a more secure and human society,” said Hudolin.

In order to improve the protection of human rights of prisoners and their families, the European Union and the Council of Europe are working closely with the public authorities in North Macedonia to improve the treatment and rehabilitation of inmates in penitentiary facilities, to strengthen the provision of health care in prisons, and further support the External Oversight Mechanism.

Speaking at today’s opening ceremony, the Head of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions, Jovica Stojanovikj, stated that this activity was part of the Directorate’s efforts to improve the prison conditions, as part of wider efforts supported by the Council of Europe.

Tanja Rakušić-Hadžić, Head of the Co-operation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Division, Council of Europe pointed out that this donation aims to support the reintegration of sentenced persons after release. “The Council of Europe has been working with North Macedonia’s authorities for more than ten years in advancing the pace of much-needed reforms and protecting the human rights of prisoners, in line with the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT),” said Rakušić-Hadžić.

The children’s corner in Kumanovo prison is the third of this kind in the country, following those in Shtip Prison, and Prilep Prison, both supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe. This initiative reflects the commitment of the authorities to implement the recommendation of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on the needs of children with imprisoned parents. In other areas, six prison ambulances were equipped two years ago, in addition to the numerous trainings, the drafting of the National Penitentiary Strategy and other important guidelines.

Photo: MIA archive and Council of Europe