International standards for the protection of the rights of convicts and prisoners

The article researches international standards for the protection of the rights of convicts and prisoners. It was determined that international standards for the protection of the rights of convicts and prisoners are a set of norms and principles established by international organizations, which determine the minimum requirements for the treatment of persons in places of deprivation of liberty, which must be observed in the countries that are parties to the relevant international treaties for ensuring the appropriate level of protection of their rights. It was noted that the standards of the international mechanism for the protection of the rights of convicts and prisoners establish specific criteria and norms that must be observed in different countries to ensure an adequate level of protection of the rights of people who are in places of imprisonment. It is emphasized that, depending on the classification and type of standards, they have a universal, regional, mandatory, advisory, general and specialized character, and are applicable to different categories of convicts and prisoners. It is substantiated that thanks to the implementation of international standards for the protection of the rights of prisoners to the legislation of Ukraine and the practice of penitentiary activities, positive changes have been noted in this area: a number of reforms aimed at humanizing the system of execution of punishments, including reducing the number of convicts and prisoners by introducing alternative types of punishment, have been implemented , such as probation; state bodies monitor compliance with the rights of convicts and prisoners, includingthrough cooperation with international organizations such as the Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the Council of Europe; the living conditions of convicts and prisoners were improved in penitentiary institutions; educational and vocational training programs are implemented, which help convicts and prisoners acquire new skills and prepare for reintegration into society after release; the cooperation of the penitentiary system with non­governmental organizations is developing through the implementation of joint projects, monitoring, legal assistance and advocacy, etc.