People´s Deputies, Head of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Lisitskov, representatives of the non-governmental organizations and mass media attended the meeting. Participants of the international conference of the Orthodox prison clergy, priests who arrived in Ukraine from Greece, Poland, United Kingdom, Armenia, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Moldova, and Belarus also took part in the round table.
Keynote speaker V.Shvets stated that church has always morally influenced penitentiary establishments, while religion has formed the penitentiary idea. The aims of the church and the state in the correction of offenders coincide, as the person who realized its guilt and repented their errors finds it easier to return to the society, establish family and social connections.
Priests working in the penitentiary establishments of Greece, Poland, United Kingdom, Armenia, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Moldova, and Belarus shared their experience and achievements in the correction of offenders.
Scholars, lawyers and representatives of the non-governmental organizations took part in the discussion.
Committee Chairman V.Shvets assured the speakers that their proposals will be considered in the law-making activity.