News

On 11-25 April two Iraqi penitentiary officers were training in Lithuania.

During the two weeks Iraqi penitentiary officers took the chance to directly familiarize themselves with various institutions of Lithuanian penitentiary system, observe the work of colleagues in the European Union countries. The Iraqis visited Lukiškės Remand Prison-Closed Prison, Vilnius Correction Houses No. 1 and No. 2, Kaunas Remand Prison, Panevėžys Correction House, and Kaunas Juvenile Remand Prison and Correction House.

On their training program, the Iraqi officers familiarized themselves with the implementation of Lithuanian penitentiary system reform and the respect for human rights in the area of criminal justice. Moreover, meetings were held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prison Department.

The Iraqi training is Lithuanian contribution to the EU Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX). During the mission the EU countries are organizing theoretical and practical training to be given to the Iraqi senior and mid-level officials, which was already given to some 1000 Iraqi judges, police and penitentiary officers.

This is already the second training program that was organized for Iraqi penitentiary officers in Lithuania. The first training program was organized in November, 2006 and the European Union appreciated it very highly. Both training programs were initiated and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the development cooperation funds and organized by the Prison Department together with Lukiškės Remand Prison-Closed Prison.