Specialists from the “Offenders' Rehabilitation Center” State Non-Commercial Organization of the RA Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and penitentiary institutions of Armenia came together on May 22 to discuss the successes and outcomes of the project “Establishment of Parents’ Club among Imprisoned Women in Abovyan Penitentiary” within the AM CALLS Community Grants component implemented by PH International through INL funding.
Participating in the event were Gayane Hovakimyan, the director of the “Offenders' Rehabilitation Center” State Non-Commercial Organization, Mariam Martirosyan, the Country Director of “PH International” Armenia branch , Judith Campbell, Leadership Profile Europe and Eurasia Team Leader, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) , Jack Anderson, INL Officer in Yerevan, etc. The successes and outcomes of the project “Establishment of Parents’ Club among Imprisoned Women in Abovyan Penitentiary” were presented during the workshop..
The main goal of the project was to promote psychological bonds between children and their parents during confinement , equip female convicts with skills which in future will help them establish healthy relations with their children, help them understand age peculiarities of the child to be able to handle situations connected with crisis ages, fears and stresses of children. 43 women convicts from Abovyan Penitentiary institution and their 20 children benefited from the project; the women convicts received 36 trainings conducted by psychologists and social workers; 8 children were referred to different support and rehabilitation structures.
The manual on “Parenting Skills” developed and published by the center was presented during the meeting. The manual is envisaged for the use by psychologists, social workers, educators, parents, staff from penitentiary institutions, and other interested people. The manual covers topics such as the role of the parents, damaged bonds between the parents and children, violence and maltreatment against the child, the role of the art, etc.
The perspectives of implementation of similar social and rehabilitation projects in other penitentiary institutions were discussed at the workshop.
Armenia | 
