DUSHANBE, December 18, 2009, Asia-Plus – Today the EU-UNDP Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP) handed over a refurbished and equipped building of the rehabilitation center for drug-addicted convicts at the Central Prison Hospital to the Tajik Ministry of Justice, according to the Delegation of the European Commission to Tajikistan.
The total cost of refurbishment works and equipment (generators, computers, furniture and kitchen equipment) amounted to €144,000.
At present, Tajikistan along with other Central Asian countries supports the Atlantis counseling twelve-step program to stop drug dependence and introduces community reintegration measures for prisoners and ex-prisoners in pilot prisons.
Together with their Central Asian colleagues, Tajikistan”s prison officers participated in a study tour to Poland in May 2009. It helped national authorities to become acquainted with the European best practices and effectiveness of the Atlantis projects in other prisons.
In August 2009, six officials from penitentiary institutions of Tajikistan met with their Kyrgyz counterparts to discuss the Atlantis program adaptation, acceptance and its further application in Tajikistan”s prisons.
The overall objective of the EU-UNDP CADAP is the gradual adoption of the EU good practices on drug policy covering both supply and demand reduction aspects by beneficiary authorities.
CADAP is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.
