Alina Matache, EUKOJUST Expert on Access to Justice, Chiara Tagliani, EULEX Gender Advisor and Heidi Kajander, EULEX Correctional Adviser delivered a training on specific gender-sensitive policies in the prison system.
The training included theoretical and practical approaches of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules), European Prison Rules and other international standards and norms. Group work and discussions took place on the principle of non-discrimination, concept of gender, admission, registration and allocation for women and children, gender-specific health care services and safety and security.
In addition, a module on trauma informed work was delivered to discuss the importance to understand the trauma that many female offenders bring with themselves, in order to avoid triggering re-traumatization.
The training was delivered following an assessment conducted by EUKOJUST in the Female Correctional Centre in Lipjan, which focused on the trend and offences in the imprisonment of women; the characteristics and background of women offenders, including any history of abuse; assessment of access to legal support and information; practices and conditions in prison which impact on the health and mental well-being of women prisoners and access to educational, employment and rehabilitation activities.
