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Spotlight
Penal Reform International becomes a member of the Justice Action Coalition to advance global justice reform
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PRI proudly announces its membership in the Justice Action Coalition (JAC), a dynamic multi-stakeholder alliance committed to driving significant advancements in justice outcomes for individuals and communities worldwide. The JAC, comprising countries and organisations united by a shared vision, aims to achieve tangible progress towards justice-related objectives.
PRI, as a significant stakeholder in advocating for penal reform and criminal justice system transformation, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this coalition. PRI's Executive Director, Olivia Rope, says: ''As a partner of the JAC, PRI will contribute to the collective effort in achieving people-centered justice. Together with other partners, we will support the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, a central goal for PRI’s work in achieving fair and effective humane rights-based criminal justice systems''.
This partnership signifies a crucial step in justice reform. We're dedicated to collaborating with global coalition members and governments to achieve measurable progress, contributing to a lasting legacy of positive change.
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New blog:
Monitoring violence against children in detention – a safeguarding blindspot?
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In observance of World Children's Day on the 20th of November, our latest blog sheds light on the critical issue of child abuse within the criminal justice system. In Europe, over 10,000 children face criminal justice-related detention. The article written by Silvia Randazzo delves into the complexities of monitoring and addressing violence in these settings.
Under the Data Mosaic Project, PRI and partners, SAPI, Terre des hommes - Romania, Fundación Tierra de hombres, and associated partner Universidade Nova de Lisboa, with the support of the Global Initiative on Justice With Children, work globally to eliminate all forms of violence against children, mapping data practises and facilitating comprehensive, human-rights-based systems sensitive to the diverse experiences of imprisoned children in the EU.
The Data Mosaic programme is scheduled to operate from spring 2023 to spring 2025, with financial support provided by the European Union.
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New blog:
Nature-based detention houses
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In a time of climate crisis and growing expenses, it's essential for all institutions, including prisons, to prioritise sustainability and reduce their environmental footprint. The climate and biodiversity crises call for a commitment to sustainability in all sectors of our society. While this includes the prison system, there has been little talk of sustainable detention in Europe. Wiep Fokker from Restorative Justice Nederland advocates for nature-based detention houses as a groundbreaking, eco-friendly approach to penal reform.
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Livestock programme promotes reintegration in prisons in Central Africa
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In collaboration with the Agence Nationale de Developpement de l'Elevage (ANDE) in the Central African Republic (CAR), PRI has empowered 40 people in Bambari and Berberati prisons through a Livestock Empowerment Programme. From September 2023 to January 2024, these individuals are actively engaged in livestock activities, gaining valuable skills for rehabilitation and future employment.
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Vacancy:
Consultancy – development of data collection tool
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We are seeking a consultant with a background in data science (or relevant experience) and proficient knowledge of MS Excel to support the creation of a data collection tool for use by child detention facilities in the EU to capture and analyse data related to all (incidents of) VAC in prison.
Skills in UX design are desirable. Starting as soon as possible and expected to run until April 2024, the consultancy will be (largely) remote in nature, realised within the framework of an ongoing multinational project funded by the European Union.
Learn more.
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Advancing prison rehabilitation in Bulgaria
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In November, PRI joined experts from the Norwegian correction service (Kriminalomsorgsdirektoratet) and Bulgarian national experts in Sofia, Bulgaria, to deliver two 3-day trainings for more than 100 professionals from across Bulgarian prisons, organised by the General Directorate Execution of Sentences in Bulgaria in the context of a multi-year project aiming for significant improvements across the country’s criminal justice system. A new conceptual framework for rehabilitation of people in prison, developed collaboratively by Bulgarian, Norwegian, and PRI experts, includes the introduction of a halfway house concept into the Bulgarian correctional system as well as two new rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes targeting needs and disproportionately vulnerable groups identified through a national needs assessment. Further trainings on the developed programmes are planned for January 2024, followed by a pilot phase across several facilities across Bulgaria.
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Expert meeting on corruption in prisons held in London, UK
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This month, in collaboration with U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, PRI brought together detention monitors from UN and European bodies, prison practitioners, academics and civil society experts to discuss the often 'taboo' issue of corruption within prison systems.
Over two days, participants considered the root causes and drivers of corruption, links to torture and ill-treatment, and effective measures to identify and prevent corrupt practices in prisons, supporting the development of an upcoming detention monitoring guide on the topic.
The meeting was kindly hosted by Linklaters LLP at their office in London.
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