PRI's work for imprisoned women and children in Ukraine

In Ukraine PRI supports reform and modernisation of the penitentiary system in partnership with local officials and civil society. This work, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), aims to improve the lives of imprisoned women, in particular those accompanied by young children.

Victoria Sergeeva, regional director of PRI’s work in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, tells us more about it.

How many children are imprisoned with their mothers in Ukraine?

There are approximately 75 children. Some women give birth in prison, so it is not unusual to find newborns as well as children of up to four years of age.

Do children live with their mothers?

Joint accommodation for mothers and their babies does not exist; only now is it under construction. Although children live in the same colonies as their mothers, they are separated.  Twice a day they get the opportunity to spend about two hours together, this is however at the discretion of the prison authorities. Mothers who are nursing young babies are an exception: they are allowed to visit as much as is necessary to feed their child.

Who looks after the children?

Prison nurses; many of whom are not specifically trained to work with women prisoners and their children. This causes additional problems for mothers as they are not given the opportunity to develop maternal skills and so are unprepared for motherhood on release.

How is PRI helping?

PRI works with the Women’s Information Consultative Center (WICC) to deliver training programmes that teach prison personnel how to support imprisoned mothers so that they are in a better position to look after their children on release. This work is vital for the mother’s rehabilitation and for the development of the young child. 

New rules, regulations and legislation governing the conditions of joint accommodation for women and children in prison are being developed as part of our work.

Until what age can children live with their mothers?

A child can live in a colony until he or she is three years old. If their mother’s sentence finishes near the child’s fourth birthday he/she will stay until their mother’s release. If their mother’s sentence is substantially longer than this they will go to live with relatives or in a state-run children’s home.

If a child is removed from the colony what level of contact is maintained between him/her and their mother?

This depends on the sentence being served and the colony’s authorities. It can range from short-term visits of three to four hours per month to four visits per year.

It is imperative for the development of the child and the rehabilitation of the mother that contact is maintained between them. Unfortunately, it is common for children placed in state-run homes to lose contact with their mothers entirely.

PRI is working with local authorities and non-governmental organisations to reunite mothers and their children and to help them maintain contact.

How do you know that the work that you are doing with women and their children will make a difference?

Previous projects with imprisoned women and their children in Ukraine, supported by the SDC, have reduced the number of women who reject their children on release. This is largely due to: improvements in joint accommodation conditions for mothers and babies, courses that prepare offenders for release, and cooperation between prison staff, NGOs, and social services who assist women to re-integrate into society.

Can fathers have access to their newly born babies?

A father can only see the baby immediately after the birth when mother and child are in the colony’s hospital. During the six months following the birth fathers cannot visit their child due to perceived health risks.

In your opinion, is it in the best interest of a child to be imprisoned with their mother?

Prison is not a place for children. At the same time, children need their mothers, particularly in their formative years. If a child does accompany their mother into prison, they should live together with specially trained staff and training programmes for new mothers available.

For more information on PRI’s work in this region click here