Quakers have a long history of working for the humane treatment of prisoners, and promoting justice and reconciliation. In Russia and Ukraine, as elsewhere in the world, we support work that aims to enhance these causes.
Prison Visiting
The Regional Prison Oversight Commissions is a group of volunteers who work throughout the regions of Russia, visiting prisons and prisoners – and speaking out about the conditions they find. When we are able, Friends House Moscow supports the volunteers with help towards their expenses for this work.
The Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP)
AVP in Ukraine have an active programme with inmates in young offender institutions. The workshops that they run train participants to deal with potentially violent situations in new and creative ways, to promote peace and a new way of looking at life.