In episode 1 of UNODC's new interview series, 'Rule of Law Conversations', the Doha Declaration Global Programme chats to Betsy Apple, Advocacy Director and Head of Democracy and the Rule of Law Division at the Open Society Justice Initiative, about these and other issues on this critical topic.
Since its inception in 2016, the Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration has reached literally millions of people across the world, promoting peace, justice and the rule of law. Through education; through sports; through prisoner rehabilitation; and through promoting a corruption-free judiciary, UNODC has been working tirelessly to leave a lasting impact on global crime prevention and criminal justice efforts. As we move from one Crime Congress to the next, this video showcases just a handful of those with whom we've collaborated, offering their voices on role of this unique Global Programme.
11 million people worldwide are incarcerated. Imprisonment does not help people to successfully reintegrate into society. Providing rehabilitation programmes helps to reduce reoffending and improve community safety. Reducing reoffending: identifying risks and developing solutions will be discussed in workshop 2 during the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Kyoto/Japan 2021.
Why is the rehabilitation of prisoners important? How can countries ensure a balance between security and dignity in prisons? Find out more in this new episode of UNODC Explains.
Under the Doha Declaration Global Programme, UNODC has developed a Practical Guide to Creating a Brand of Prison Products to support Member States in developing or enhancing a brand of prison products or services, in full compliance with international standards and norms applicable to prison-based work programmes and prisoners' working conditions.
Overcrowding in prisons is a global issue, including in Indonesia where rehabilitation facilities originally designed to house around 130,000 people are now nearing double that capacity.
At parts of efforts to resolve issues such as this, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime launched a prisoner rehabilitation project in the Semarang Female Correctional Facility. Developed under the Doha Declaration Global Programme, the project aims to lower the reoffending rate by providing prisoners with vocational training in batik - the country's traditional fabric dyeing technic. By obtaining commercially viable skills that can be used post-release, prisoners earn #ANewChance to reintegrate into society and avoid conflict with the law in the future.
Since 2000, the global female prison population has increased by 50%. This story of Asih is one example of how rehabilitation programmes supported by UNODC's Global Doha Declaration programme help provide inmates with equal opportunities for #ANewChance upon release.
UNODC's new Handbook on the Classification of Prisoners is designed to provide practical information and guidelines to support prison administrations with the development of an effective system that meets international standards. It is based on grounded research evidence and the experience of numerous countries that have implemented such systems. Although primarily designed for prison officers, it is also intended to be a useful resource guide for other criminal justice officials and parties involved in the criminal justice system.