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PRI organises Kazakhstan study visit to Georgia on child-friendly justice systems
Earlier this month, PRI’s South Caucasus and Central Asia offices organised for a delegation from Kazakhstan to visit Georgia to learn about the country’s good practice examples in the fields of child protection, welfare and justice. The delegation visited children’s rehabilitation facilities, low-risk facilities, foster homes, and family homes for homeless children and children with […]
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PRI signs an agreement to support demilitarisation of the prison service in the Central African Republic
In December 2017, Penal Reform International signed an agreement with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) to provide support in developing a strategy for demilitarisation of the prison service. MINUSCA has been working in Central African Republic since 2014, supporting efforts to address the root causes of conflict and […]
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Expert meeting at PRI on mental health in prisons
A meeting held at PRI’s Head Office in London on 23 January 2018 gathered a number of experts to discuss the mental health and well-being of prisoners, in order to provide input into a publication that will give guidance to front-line prison staff to identify and support prisoners’ mental health needs. The publication, which will […]
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PRI participates in US Congress hearing on international prison reform
On Wednesday 17 January, PRI’s Central Asia Regional Director Azamat Shambilov took part in a US Congress hearing, organised by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, on ‘Advancing Human Rights through International Prison Reform’. The hearing, which was hosted by Congressmen Randy Hultgren and James P. McGovern, explored the problems facing prisons around the world and examined the […]
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PRI to co-organise World Congress on Justice for Children
In May 2018, PRI will co-organise the 2018 World Congress on Justice for Children, which will take place at the UNESCO House in Paris. The Congress, on 28-30 May 2018, will address three major issues, which are: the global trend towards children’s involvement in violent extremism and possible responses; the need for more effective ways […]
PRI attends World Health Organization meeting on prisons and health
Last week, PRI’s Executive Director, Alison Hannah, attended the World Health Organization (WHO) international meeting on prisons and health in Lisbon. This international meeting, which was jointly organised by Public Health England (PHE) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), brought together over 100 experts in the field of prison and public […]
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PRI’s Central Asia office receives EU award marking Human Rights Day
On 8 December 2017, PRI’s Central Asia office was presented with a European Union award recognising PRI’s work to improve access to justice for vulnerable groups. The European Union in Kazakhstan hosted an International Human Rights Award ceremony in Astana to mark International Human Rights Day, which is celebrated globally every year on 10 December, the day the […]
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OSCE/ODIHR meeting explores importance of independent detention monitoring to protect human rights while preventing violent extremism and radicalisation
The importance of independent detention monitoring bodies in assessing whether state measures to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalisation that lead to terrorism (VERLT) in prisons are human-rights compliant was the focus of a workshop organised by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in partnership with Penal Reform International (PRI), […]
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PRI live-streams award-winning play to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Saturday 25 November was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and to mark the day PRI live-streamed the award-winning play Key Change, from the Open Clasp Theatre Company. A New York Times Critics Pick, Key Change highlights the complex journey that women who come into contact with the criminal justice system face, and […]
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Preventing violent extremism in prison: joint UNDP, UNODC & PRI consulation
Two UN organisations – UNDP and UNODC – joined with PRI to hold a joint consultation with international experts and practitioners in Amman this month. The aim was to take stock of current knowledge and exchange information on good practice in addressing the issue of violent extremism in prison. Regional and global experts from over […]