In June 1998, the National Team Leaders (NTLs) of the Sub-regional

Project on Harm Reduction chose "Harm Reduction in Prison" as topic for a

Thematic Seminar (TS). It was prepared by the Sub-regional Team, organised

by the National Team of Slovenia and took place from 19 to 21 November in

Portoroz, on the Slovenian coast.

The TS had the following objectives:

prisons among experts from Phare partner countries; and

Reduction in Prison" that can encourage the provision of HR

services in prisons in Phare partner countries. The TS served as a

national training event for staff working in the field in

Slovenia, with corresponding objectives.

Sixty-six participants attended the event: forty experts from the

host-country, sixteen experts from the other twelve Phare partner

countries, five experts from other European countries and five members of

the Core Team of TA to DDR came to Portoroz. Participants from Phare

partner countries came from the prison-policy field, or were involved in

prison-administration or health-care service provision for prisoners. The

five experts from other European countries represented networks and

institutions working on prison and drugs/health issues and had been invited

to present their work.

The programme consisted of six complementary thematic sessions.

Examples for the "status-quo" of the HR issue in prisons of central and

eastern European countries were given by the three cluster countries and by

Lithuania. Information on strategy and practice of HR programmes in

prisons, as well as on psychological, criminological and legal aspects came

from Slovenia, where the topic - compared to many other countries in the

region - has already been discussed and developed further. Further

presentations looked at management and training issues and experiences made

in the European Union member states. The seminar profited from the input by

the two major western European networks on prison/health issues, who

presented results of their networking and collaborative research

activities. The use and wider dissemination of international

recommendations and standards in this field at the national level was also

encouraged.

Contents and organisation of the event were both evaluated positively

by participants. It was seen as a good opportunity for presenting own

experiences and opinions, and as useful for future work by making

key-information available, broadening knowledge, and by providing

opportunities for networking within and beyond the Phare partner countries.

The high profile of delegates sent by Phare partner countries - coming from

the decision-taking as well as from the practice levels - showed that there

is high awareness of the importance of the topic among policy-makers.

The experiences made by these key-experts in the Seminar provide a

starting point for a more informed discussion, which has to take place in

each country, at its own pace. Several follow-up activities have been

recommended by participants to support this process.