establishments; to increase the number of allowed visits and telephone calls in closed-type and specialrisk establishments. Equality For years, the Public Defender has been issuing the same recommendation regarding the elaboration of a strategy aimed at eradicating hate, stigmatisation and marginalisation of LGBT prisoners and other prisoners employed in service units and responsible for cleaning.26 One of the strategic goals of the plan is to improve convicted persons’ opportunities for employment, vocational training, education and relaxation. To this end, setting up appropriate systems and infrastructure and taking into account the needs of vulnerable groups are emphasised. The Public Defender hopes that the ministry will study the needs of LGBT prisoners, prisoners doing household and cleaning jobs, and develop an action plan based on the identified needs. The Public Defender and the Special Preventive Group are well aware of the complexity of the problem and consider that it is necessary to carry out evidence-based, coherent and effective measures to solve the problem. Rehabilitation One of the goals of the plan is to reduce recidivism and thus prevent crime through effective rehabilitation and reintegration through penitentiary and probation systems. The expected outcome of these goals is the implementation of individual assessment, including implementation of effective methodologies of classification, sentence planning and incident management. The Public Defender and the Special Preventive Group hope that the provision of rehabilitation services tailored to individual needs of all convicted persons will be ensured. Medical Services One of the important goals of the plan is to create a healthy environment in penitentiary establishments and probation bureaus through improving the measures aimed at preventing and reducing contagious diseases, preventing suicide and self-harm, and improving mental health services. It is commendable that there are activities planned to further improve healthcare services for prisoners in penitentiary establishments and bring them closer to the quality of services provided in the civic sector. However, 26 The problem is also discussed, on his visit to Georgia, by the independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, from 25 September to 5 October 2018 (A/HRC/41/45/Add.1). The independent expert recommends that the state gather baseline information on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse populations in prison, including with regard to the size and the needs of those diverse populations, and incorporate components related to their care, protection and social integration in policy documents (para. 50); the report is available in the United Nations official languages at: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=69&su=77, (accessed 12.06.2019). 20