OSCE supports Uzbek experts in exploring modern penitentiary management practices in Spain

What happens behind the walls of modern prisons? How are human rights safeguarded, and how do facilities support inmates’ social reintegration? These were the questions at the heart of a study visit by an Uzbek delegation to Spain, a European country recognized for its advanced approach to human-rights-based and gender-sensitive prison management.

The visit took place from 15 to 18 December 2025 and was organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan in partnership with the Centre for Development and Justice. The delegation included representatives from the National Centre for Human Rights, the Ministries of Internal and Foreign Affairs, and the heads of Uzbekistan’s correctional facilities. They visited correctional facilities for men and women, as well as a local police station, to see how the Spanish system operates in practice.

In addition, the delegation met with Spain’s Ministry of Justice, the General Secretariat of Penitentiary Institutions, the Gregorio Peces-Barba Institute of Human Rights at Carlos III University and the Ibero-American Network of International Legal Cooperation.

A key focus of the visit was Spain’s human-centred approach. Delegates explored mechanisms for individual assessment of inmates, whereby each person’s behaviour, needs and potential are considered to determine the appropriate regime and support programmes. 

They also examined education and vocational training, rehabilitation schemes, and medical and psychological care, witnessing how staff actively engage with prisoners to create a safe and supportive environment. The visit highlighted the fact that prisons can be more than places of confinement; they can uphold human rights and offer inmates a second chance. Special attention was given to gender-sensitive management of correctional facilities.

The insights the delegation gained during the visit can inform the ongoing development of Uzbekistan’s correctional system, with a focus on the effectiveness of human rights and international standards.