News

Prevention of Radicalisation in Prison and in Probation Challenges and opportunities for the partnership between local authorities and judicial actors European Seminar The theme of the third LIAISE 2 seminar, co-organised by Efus and the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) and hosted by the city of The Hague (NL), will be the challenges and opportunities of partnerships between local authorities and judicial actors regarding the prevention of radicalisation and reoffending. During the seminar, different European approaches to radicalisation in prison will be presented, as well as practices and partnerships related to this phenomenon and how they have evolved. One of the themes will be the increasing number of returnees who come back from conflict zones. What risk might they pose to security in Europe? What are the difficulties posed by their judicial follow-up and reintegration? What role can they play, once they have re-entered society, to prevent radicalisation in their own communities, in particular among young people? Wednesday 29 March 2017 - The Hague (NL)

Erasmus+ Programme Learn how to be successful in obtaining funds for education, training, youth, and Sport 27 - 28 February 2017 Master the Recipe on Developing Successful Proposals for European Funds 13 - 14 March 2017 Successful Horizon 2020 Dissemination/Exploitation and Communication strategies 15 March 2017 Financial Management of EU Funded Projects & External Auditing 16 - 17 March 2017 Communication and Social Media Strategies for EU Projects 22 - 23 March 2017

2nd Technology in Corrections Conference: Challenges for the future Registration open! When: 15-17th May 2017 Where: Orea Hotel Pyramida, Bělohorská 24, Prague, Czech Republic CEP in cooperation with EuroPris and ICPA will organise the second Technology in Corrections: Challenges for the Future on 15-17th May 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The aim of this conference is to: • Challenge the private sector to develop innovative digital solutions for use in corrections to address issues facing prisons and probation today; • Provide networking opportunities for technology experts in the corrections arena; • To promote the use and implementation of advanced Digital Technology Solutions in corrections. The private sector is challenged to develop solutions in the field of digital technology for a number of issues that prison and probation systems currently face. The challenges to the private sector are based on the issues faced by the National Agencies. PROGRAMME A detailed programme will be formed in the months leading up to the event; however the programme will be underpinned by the three main themes and will depend on the papers/solutions submited by the private sector. A first draft of the programme will be developed by the programme committee at the end of February. Themes: 1. Education, reintegration and lifelong learning. 2. Improving efficiency and collaboration within the whole correctional system 3. Monitoring of behavior and activities Presentations will demonstrate innovative solutions in corrections to present day challenges. Over the course of the event, participants will have the opportunity to interact and contribute during the dialogue sessions and to network and discuss issues in detail. Participants will also be invited to meet and greet in our exclusive 'marketplace' and to learn more about some of the present offerings from leading technology providers in the field. WHO SHOULD ATTEND This is an international event and experts from a wide range of backgrounds and sectors in the creation, development and the implementation of correctional technology solutions should seek to attend. This includes senior decision makers, Directors General of correctional jurisdictions, CIOs, heads of ICT departments, business improvement professionals, prison and probation management experts, analytical and research specialists and technology solution providers. We seek to attract a core audience of those presently working within the prison and probation sectors who are involved in the advancement of their respective jurisdictions through the implementation of digital technology initiatives. Overall we aim for this event to attract some 220 participants comprising public and private sector professionals from countries across the globe.

The klicksafe project Here, we would like to present the klicksafe project – who we are, what we do, and what we offer: ◾What is klicksafe? Background information on the project and on the Safer Internet Programme of the European Union ◾What does klicksafe do? Topics and target groups of the initiative ◾What does klicksafe offer? Information on content and qualification measures, and on the klicksafe public campaign ◾klicksafe-flyer All relevant information on the EU-project for more internet-security

Hosted by the National Reentry Resource Center, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance Date: Thursday, February 16 Time: 2–3 p.m. ET In this webinar, officials from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the National Reentry Resource Center will explain the Second Chance Act (SCA) Smart Reentry Solicitation: Focus on Evidence-based Strategies for Successful Reentry from Incarceration to Community and how state and local government agencies and federally recognized tribal governments can apply for funding. Attendees will also be able to ask BJA officials questions about the application process.

Sport is a powerful tool to reinforce social cohesion as well as to prevent violence linked to exclusion and discrimination given that it encourages values including tolerance, respect, solidarity and fair-play. Many cities and regions in Europe support sports programmes, especially for the younger generations, with the objective of strengthening social ties. In 2016, Efus organised the European Prize for Social Integration through Sport to give visibility to tried and tested or promising initiatives so that they can further develop and inspire others - at a local, regional, national or European level. Five projects were rewarded by a European jury for their impact, their innovative character, the strength of the partnership involved and the attention paid to vulnerable groups, out of more than 200 applications submitted across 22 countries. In addition, around 20 projects that were deemed of particular interest by the jury have been selected to be published alongside the five winning projects in the collection of practices presented below.

The open evening is an excellent opportunity to meet some of the course tutors and ask questions. They will discuss in detail the content and logistics of our courses, as well as how the course fits into your future career plans. They will also discuss the 14 scholarships on offer. Most of the courses now available via Distance Learning Wednesday 22nd February 2017, from 6-8pm Venue: LECTURE THEATRE G03, BEDFORD WAY BUILDING, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON, 26 BEDFORD WAY, LONDON, WC1H 0DS The open evening includes a drinks reception and begins with a short talk ‘How forensic science has evolved in the new millennium – lessons from empirical research’ by Dr Georgina Meakin, UCL Centre for the Forensic Sciences

Legalising and regulating cannabis would save lives Legalising the use of cannabis would radically help increase the visibility of people experiencing problems with their cannabis use, allowing professionals to offer advice and recognise the signs of dependency in those presenting for purchase, and better signpost people to the appropriate level of treatment available – all helping to end the social stigma around cannabis use which so often acts as a barrier to problematic users seeking help. But, even if people whose cannabis use had become a problem were more visible and it was easier to direct them to the help they require, cannabis remains a neglected drug in the UK’s public health discourse, resulting in limited support and guidance. 2017-02-08

This free course, Introduction to critical criminology, provides a brief introduction to critical criminological thinking. It defines the ways in which critical criminologists take a 'critical stance' on the fundamental concepts, practices and institutions associated with crime and criminal justice systems.

Join the first global network of mayors, municipal-level policy makers and practitioners united in building social cohesion and community resilience to counter violent extremism in all its forms. The Strong Cities Network is designed for policy-makers and practitioners operating at city, municipal or sub-national level. Membership is completely free of charge. In order to sign your city up to the Strong Cities Network you will need the approval of your Mayor.

13 February 2017 - The integration of crime prevention and criminal justice into all levels of education is essential in building long-term approaches to countering crime and violence. It is also critical in ensuring that the rule of law is respected from an early age in order to build safe and prosperous societies for all. Recognizing this, the Doha Declaration, adopted at the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, highlighted the fundamental importance of universal education for children and youth to prevent crime, terrorism and corruption and promote sustainable development. To put the Doha Declaration into reality, an ambitious Global Programme was launched last year with the financial support of the State of Qatar, which includes an innovative and comprehensive educational initiative: 'Education for Justice' (E4J). An interactive session on primary education at the Expert Group Meeting for the Education for Justice (E4J) initiativeAs part of the development of E4J, a series of Expert Group Meetings are currently underway in Vienna, bringing together experts with a variety of backgrounds from across Governments (including Ministries of Education), civil society, academia, the private sector and international organizations, combining a rich spectrum of experiences. Their areas of expertise range from education (teaching and curriculum development) to UNODC's mandate areas (corruption, terrorism, criminal justice, and organized crime, including cybercrime) With a focus on three levels of education - primary, secondary and tertiary - the meetings are being held over the course of February and March. At the primary level, E4J aims to develop and support interactive and innovative tools to foster integrity and skills from an early age for solving basic moral and ethical dilemmas; at the secondary level, the initiative will promote an understanding of the basic concepts that lie at the core of UNODC's work; while for universities, teaching and research on issues related to the UNODC-mandated areas will be facilitated and promoted, including corruption, organized crime, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, terrorism, cybercrime, criminal justice and arms trafficking, as well as on integrity and ethics. Candice Welsch, from UNODC's Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, on the primary education Expert Group Meeting. Photo: UNODCNoting this, Candice Welsch from UNODC's Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, opened the primary education Expert Group Meeting: "Education is broadly recognized as a tool to promote peace, justice and equality for sustainable development. It has a major role to play in shaping the values of future generations, building collective consciousness, reshaping societal preferences and complementing this with the necessary skills to enact these values." She also elaborated how E4J is connected to the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG target 4.7, which calls for Member States to engage in education on the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence. John Brandolino, UNODC Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs. Photo: UNODCThe secondary level event was opened by John Brandolino, UNODC Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs, who conveyed the importance of building resilience among children and youth through carefully targeted and comprehensive educational programmes that actively involve young people and all relevant stakeholders. "E4J focuses on certain aspects of education that are meant to cultivate critical thinking skills among youth and build an awareness that crime is bad and harmful to society. This, in turn, should inspire individuals to abstain from criminal activities and also instil support for societal efforts to prevent and address all types of crime."

The World Drug Report 2016 is published in the wake of the landmark moment in global drug policy, the special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem. Chapter I provides a global overview of the supply of and demand for opiates, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and new psychoactive substances (NPS), as well as their impact on health. It also reviews the scientific evidence on polydrug use, treatment demand for cannabis and developments since the legalization of cannabis for recreational use in some parts of the world. Chapter II focuses on the mechanisms of the interaction between the world drug problem and all aspects of sustainable development through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals.

13 January 2017 Millions of girls and boys suffer school-related violence every year, according to a new report by UNESCO and the Institute of School Violence Prevention at Ewha Womans University (Seoul, Republic of Korea). Thirty-four per cent of students aged 11–13 reported being bullied in the previous month, with eight per cent reporting daily bullying, according to data from 19 low and middle-income countries analysed in the School Violence and Bullying: Global Status Report [1]. The report will be presented on 17 January at an international meeting in Seoul, the International Symposium on School Violence and Bullying: From Evidence to Action, aiming to support global efforts to ensure that all children and adolescents benefit from the fundamental right to education in a safe learning environment. The event is co‐organized by UNESCO and the Institute of School Violence Prevention at Ewha Womans University. “School violence and bullying is a grave violation of the right to education,” says the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, adding that “the symposium and report are part of UNESCO’s effort to ensure that schools and other learning environments are safe and secure for all.” School violence and bullying, which includes physical, psychological and sexual harassment, is found to have a negative impact on students’ learning, as well as their mental and emotional health. A range of studies, cited in a recent UNESCO evidence review [2], shows that children and young people who have experienced homophobic bullying are at increased risk of stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, isolation, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. The Global Status Report highlights that school-related violence is driven by unequal power dynamics often reinforced by gender norms and stereotypes, sexual orientation, and other factors that contribute to marginalization such as poverty, ethnic identity, or language. In a 2016 opinion poll on the experience of bullying to which 100,000 young people in 18 countries responded [3], 25 per cent reported that they had been bullied because of their physical appearance, 25 per cent because of their gender or sexual orientation and 25 per cent because of their ethnicity or national origin. The Report recommends priority actions to address school violence and bullying, notably strengthening leadership, promoting awareness, establishing partnerships and engaging children and adolescents, building education staff capacity, establishing reporting systems and improving the collection data and evidence.

Date: Thursday 2nd March 201 Pre-presentation drinks reception: 16:30 Presentation: 17:00 followed by Q&A session The Department of Security and Crime Science and the Organised Crime Research Network are pleased to announce a special presentation as part of its programme of work around tackling organised crime and terrorism. Mr Wainwright was appointed Director of Europol in April 2009. He was reappointed for a second term in 2013, having overseen Europol’s transition from intergovernmental organisation to EU agency status in 2010, ensured Europol’s pivotal position in the new EU Policy Cycle for serious and organised crime from 2011, and secured the establishment of the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) at Europol in 2013. Under his command Europol has also established the new European Counter Terrorism Centre and European Migrant Smuggling Centre, both in 2016. As the EU’s law enforcement agency, Europol has a mission to support its Member States in preventing and combatting all forms of serious international organised crime and terrorism. In his presentation Rob Wainwright will provide a number of insights into the daily workings of Europol and how it works with member states. Mr. Wainwright will also provide topical and timely commentary on the impact of Brexit on the UKs relationship with Europol and the implications for collective security. This invitation is open to all members of the Department of Security and Crime Science and invited guests.

Hosted by the CSG Justice Center with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Date: Wednesday, February 22 Time: 2–3:30 p.m. ET Researcher-practitioner partnerships are key to implementing data-driven approaches to reducing crime, improving community safety, reducing recidivism, and preventing unnecessary confinement. Having a researcher at the table can also help in designing effective approaches. This webinar will review effective methods for building and implementing a research partnership, with a particular emphasis on agencies that have recently established a new research partnership or are planning on starting a research partnership. Webinar presenters include Dr. Edmund McGarrell from Michigan State University and Dr. Faye Taxman from the George Mason University, Center for Advancing Excellence!

06 October 2016 The European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) provides a platform for its members to discuss and disseminate best practices in crime prevention. Essential in identifying best practices in crime prevention, is the evaluation of crime prevention projects. A crucial step in any evaluation process is the identification and registration of indicators (EUCPN 2013, UNODC 2010, Morgan & Homel 2013). Indicators provide measurable information on the implementation, efficiency and effectiveness of a crime prevention programme. They can be applied to evaluate projects against specific criteria in an intersubjective and rigorous manner. Information on the identification and use of indicators in the evaluation process of crime prevention projects is nevertheless currently lacking. The EUCPN has therefore commissioned this study to provide an overview of relevant indicators and their application in the evaluation of crime prevention projects.

Although official figures on the phenomenon are lacking, it is clear that children arriving in the European Union (EU) are often accompanied by persons other than their parents or guardians. Such children are usually referred to as ‘separated’ children. Their identification and registration bring additional challenges, and their protection needs are often neglected. On arrival, these children are often ‘accompanied’, but the accompanying adult(s) may not necessarily be able, or suitable, to assume responsibility for their care. These children are also at risk of exploitation and abuse, or may already be victims. Their realities and special needs require additional attention. The lack of data and guidance on separated children poses a serious challenge. This focus section outlines the specific protection needs of separated children, and highlights current responses and promising practices among EU Member States.

Corruption and inequality feed off each other, creating a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth. As the Panama Papers showed, it is still far too easy for the rich and powerful to exploit the opaqueness of the global financial system to enrich themselves at the expense of the public good. Based on expert opinion from around the world, the Corruption Perceptions Index measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption worldwide. The findings are less than encouraging. Not a single country comes close to top marks, while over 120 countries score below 50 on the scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). This means less than a third of countries are even above the midpoint. Corruption hurts all countries. In our index’s lower-scoring countries, people frequently face situations of bribery and extortion, rely on basic services that have been undermined by the misappropriation of funds, and confront official indifference when seeking redress from authorities that are on the take. In higher-scoring countries the situation may seem less obvious in the daily lives of citizens, but closed-door deals, illicit finance, and patchy law enforcement exacerbate many forms of corruption at home and abroad. “We do not have the luxury of time,” says Ugaz. “Corruption needs to be fought with urgency, so that the lives of people across the world improve”.

From 20th February 2017. 2 hours/module. Online training and interactive forum. Knowledge evaluation and final paper. First edition free of charge. This course provides training to professionals working with children in conflict with the law and is specifically geared towards improving their communication with children. In this course, topics related to children’s legal rights, interviewing techniques, communication, child psychology and pedagogical skills will be touched upon in the various modules. The course aims to provide information and to give further guidance on the implementation of the provisions of the EU Directive on procedural safeguards for children suspected or accused in criminal proceedings (2016/800/EU). This online training course is one of the outputs of the EU funded project “Improving Juvenile Justice Systems in Europe: Training for Professionals” (JUST/2013/FRC/AG), and is based on the manual for professionals "Can anyone hear me? Improving juvenile justice systems in Europe: A manual on how to make European juvenile justice systems child-friendly".

On 23 February 2017 the partners of the Criminal Justice Platform (EuroPris, EFRJ and CEP), organise an experts seminar on the implementation of the Victims’ Directive Brussels (10-16 hr). REGISTRATION The seminar is open to about 40 experts. Participation will be free of charge. To register, please follow this link: http://www.euforumrj.org/events/experts-seminar-victims-directive/ PROGRAMME The common theme, bringing together the Victims’ Directive and the interests of different organisations working in the criminal justice field, is ‘Training of professionals and cooperation in the framework of Art 25 and 26 of the Victims’ Directive‘. The seminar will include plenary speeches in the morning (by representatives of the European Commission, Victim Support Europe, the EFRJ, Europris and the Confederation of European Probation) and thematic workshops in the afternoon. During the day there will be two sessions with parallel workshops that present and discuss the status of the implementation of the Victims Directive one year after the implementation of the Directive in Prison, Probation and Victims Services. The workshops will consist of short (15 minutes) presentations in combination with a moderated discussion with the participants. Topics of the workshop would focus on Art. 25 and 26, respectively on training of professionals and lay people and cooperation between services in order to provide better support and protection to victims of crime across Europe.

European seminar 2-3 March 2017, Vienna According to recent reports by European institutions and civil society organisations, incidents motivated by hate and intolerance are increasing in number and intensity in many EU member states. While this is a trans-national phenomenon, responses must be found at all levels of governance. Local authorities can play a particularly important role in terms of prevention and awareness-raising and contribute to creating a climate where discrimination, hate speech and violence are not acceptable. To discuss this pressing topic, Efus invites you to a public European seminar on countering discriminatory violence and hate crime at the local level. Representatives of local authorities, European institutions, civil society organisations and other experts will discuss local approaches and strategies to counter hate and intolerance and exchange examples of best practices. The seminar includes presentations by well known experts who work on anti-discrimination and hate crime, panel discussions with representatives of European institutions, workshops on best practices by local practitioners, and field visits of some of the front line projects currently underway in Vienna to prevent hate crime.

6-7 April 2017 - ILO Headquarters Around the world, in economies at all stages of development, profound changes in the nature of work are underway. Numerous and diverse drivers account for these: demographic shifts, climate change, technological innovation, shifting contours of poverty and prosperity, growing inequality, economic stagnation and the changing character of production and employment. The transformations we witness now challenge us to imagine the future of work over the long term in order to steer this evolution in the direction of social justice. Rising widespread anxiety about whether the future will produce greater polarization within and between countries brings urgency to this task. Recognizing the pressing need to begin marshalling global expertise to make the future of work the one we want, the ILO launched the Future of Work Centenary Initiative in 2013. Under the Initiative, this Symposium presents an important step to gain greater understanding of the changes we are witnessing and to develop effective policy responses that can shape the future of work. The Symposium will be structured around the Initiative’s four “centenary conversations” -- work and society, decent jobs for all, the organization of work and production, and the governance of work – and will gather international thinkers and actors who are at the forefront of debates on each topic. A special session will discuss the perspectives for and views of young people – including representatives of the social partners – in the future of work they will experience.

Como 24-28/07/2017 EFRJ Summer School 2017 The EFRJ summer school will take place at the University of Insubria (Como, Italy) on 24-28 July 2017! The focus will be on the use of RJ in cases of serious crimes. Register before 30 April to benefit from the reduced fee!!! A brief historical note on the EFRJ Summer School Every two years, the EFRJ organises a Summer School in a different location in Europe and on a different theme. After the EFRJ’s foundation in 2000, the EFRJ Summer School was present in: •Pilsen, Czech Republic (2005) •Riga, Latvia (2007) •Barcelona, Spain (2009) •Canterbury, United Kingdom (2011) •Vienna, Austria (2013) •Lisbon, Portugal (2015) In general, the EFRJ Summer School aims at bringing together practitioners, researchers, trainers and other professionals interested in RJ from across Europe and beyond to exchange and discuss practices, ideas, challenges, projects in the field of RJ.

On 26-28 April 2017 Lowlands Solutions Netherlands (LSN) will be presenting a three-day, 24 hours, course on Counterterrorism (CT) and Applied Intelligence at the Park Hotel in The Hague, Netherlands. This three day (24 hour) “hands-on” program will provide the attendee with a comprehensive overview of the phenomenon of terrorism, basic counterterrorism techniques and the fundamental difference between information and (applied) intelligence in which focus will be given to Financial Intelligence (dr. Nicholas Ridley), Cyber Security & Cyber Intelligence and Intelligence Analysis (IA). Who Should Attend? Law Enforcement Personnel, (Military) Intelligence Officers, Security Officers, General Police Officers, Police Officers assigned to Anti-Terrorism activities, Intelligence Analysts, Financial Intelligence Officers, Academics, Security Managers, Protective Service Agents, Investigators, Threat Assessment Professionals and Corporate Managers and or CEOs.

Hosted by the CSG Justice Center with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Date: Thursday, February 23 Time: 2–3:30 p.m. ET Staff from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Office of Justice Programs, and The Council of State Governments Justice Center will review information for Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program applicants and grantees on the grant management and budget process. Questions will be answered on budget clearance, allowable and unallowable uses of funds, matching federal funds, grant adjustment notices, no cost extensions, budget modifications, communication with funders and technical assistance providers, and other common questions that come up over the course of the grant period. There will be time for questions and answers at the end of the webinar.

13 February 2017 - The integration of crime prevention and criminal justice into all levels of education is essential in building long-term approaches to countering crime and violence. It is also critical in ensuring that the rule of law is respected from an early age in order to build safe and prosperous societies for all. Recognizing this, the Doha Declaration, adopted at the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, highlighted the fundamental importance of universal education for children and youth to prevent crime, terrorism and corruption and promote sustainable development. To put the Doha Declaration into reality, an ambitious Global Programme was launched last year with the financial support of the State of Qatar, which includes an innovative and comprehensive educational initiative: 'Education for Justice' (E4J). An interactive session on primary education at the Expert Group Meeting for the Education for Justice (E4J) initiativeAs part of the development of E4J, a series of Expert Group Meetings are currently underway in Vienna, bringing together experts with a variety of backgrounds from across Governments (including Ministries of Education), civil society, academia, the private sector and international organizations, combining a rich spectrum of experiences. Their areas of expertise range from education (teaching and curriculum development) to UNODC's mandate areas (corruption, terrorism, criminal justice, and organized crime, including cybercrime) With a focus on three levels of education - primary, secondary and tertiary - the meetings are being held over the course of February and March. At the primary level, E4J aims to develop and support interactive and innovative tools to foster integrity and skills from an early age for solving basic moral and ethical dilemmas; at the secondary level, the initiative will promote an understanding of the basic concepts that lie at the core of UNODC's work; while for universities, teaching and research on issues related to the UNODC-mandated areas will be facilitated and promoted, including corruption, organized crime, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, terrorism, cybercrime, criminal justice and arms trafficking, as well as on integrity and ethics. Candice Welsch, from UNODC's Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, on the primary education Expert Group Meeting. Photo: UNODCNoting this, Candice Welsch from UNODC's Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, opened the primary education Expert Group Meeting: "Education is broadly recognized as a tool to promote peace, justice and equality for sustainable development. It has a major role to play in shaping the values of future generations, building collective consciousness, reshaping societal preferences and complementing this with the necessary skills to enact these values." She also elaborated how E4J is connected to the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG target 4.7, which calls for Member States to engage in education on the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence. John Brandolino, UNODC Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs. Photo: UNODCThe secondary level event was opened by John Brandolino, UNODC Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs, who conveyed the importance of building resilience among children and youth through carefully targeted and comprehensive educational programmes that actively involve young people and all relevant stakeholders. "E4J focuses on certain aspects of education that are meant to cultivate critical thinking skills among youth and build an awareness that crime is bad and harmful to society. This, in turn, should inspire individuals to abstain from criminal activities and also instil support for societal efforts to prevent and address all types of crime."

10 February 2017 - Following the development of guidance material on the management of violent extremist prisoners and on prison-based rehabilitation programmes, UNODC's Justice Section hosted today more than 30 senior level prison officials from around the world, together with representatives from prison inspection mechanisms and other relevant partners, in order to review a checklist which will assist Member States in assessing compliance with The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners ("the Nelson Mandela Rules"). The adoption by the General Assembly of the Nelson Mandela Rules in December 2015 represented a landmark achievement for the international normative framework applicable to prison management. "The hard work which Member States and other partners invested into this process has ensured the continued relevance of prison rules in the 21st century", noted Mr. Aldo Lale-Demoz, UNODC's Deputy Executive Director, during the opening": "It has also created a new - and very much needed - international spotlight on prison conditions, management and the treatment of prisoners. I think we can all agree that safe prisons promote human rights, advance the right to health and contribute to communities safe from crime". The Nelson Mandela rules also form the normative cornerstone of UNODC's new Global Programme on Addressing Prison Challenges, which was launched to build on this momentum for prison reform. Forming part of this programme, this week's Expert Group was convened to assist national prison administrations in assessing and improving compliance of prison management with the rules in practice. More specifically, experts worked on refining a checklist which can serve either (i) as a basis for newly established internal inspection mechanisms in prison administrations, or (ii) as a tool for revising existing inspection methods and tools in line with international minimum standards. As such, the meeting directly responded to one specific innovation in the rules, namely the need for a two-fold system of external (independent) and internal inspections of prisons and penal services. Numerous Member States have indeed started with reviewing their prison laws and policies in light of the Nelson Mandela Rules. The Correctional Service convened a high-level consultative meeting, in December 2016, in Zambia. Photo: UNODCIn Zambia, for example, the Correctional Service convened a high-level consultative meeting in December 2016 to review the national Prison Act with a view to incorporate key provisions of the UN Standard Minimum Rules. The event, organized with the support of UNODC, was opened by Chileshe Mulenga, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, who highlighted that "our aspiration is to make sure we have a Zambia that observes and respects the rights of all human beings within her borders; including those in prisons". He further observed that prisons were not meant to punish but to reform people, so that they can also contribute to national development once released. A key objective is to change the mindset of correctional staff from a regimental/punitive culture to a correctional model. In light of this focus on staff training and as an immediate form of support, UNODC shared with the Zambia Correctional Staff Training College its extensive series of prison management handbooks and curricula. UNODC's Expert Group Meeting in Vienna, supported by the Government of Germany, included a presentation by representatives from Algeria, Brazil, Thailand and the U.S., who elaborated on the internal inspection systems in place in their national prison systems. Furthermore, the attendance of representatives from the United Nations Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture and the International Committee of the Red Cross, amongst others, also ensured a constructive exchange with mechanisms and organizations in charge of independent inspections, or which have extensive experience in visiting prisons around the world. Looking beyond this initiative, Thabo Pitswani, Minister Plenipotentiary from the Permanent Mission of South Africa, used the opening of the meeting to reiterate that it would champion the formation of a Vienna-based Group of Friends of the Nelson Mandela Rules. "I would like to reaffirm South Africa's commitment to remain actively engaged in promoting awareness of the rules and to support their practical application in Member States", said Mr. Pitswani. Such Group would provide for a permanent forum to promote the application of the rules, in order to strengthen UNODC's technical support in the field of prisons reform and to facilitate consultations of interested Member States on the different aspects related to prison management. The Group is also planned to facilitate the widest possible involvement of Member States and other stakeholders in the annual marking of Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July) by promoting humane conditions of imprisonment.

Call for abstracts for EUSPR 2017 in Vienna is now open.

They welcome submissions on all prevention science topics.  They  also encourage presentations that focus on improving the use of evidence in policy and practice, and welcome submissions from delegates outside of academia (such as policy makers, practitioners, and advocates) who have an interest in prevention.

 

PhD scholarships and Open Evening for UCL Security Science Doctoral Training Centre (UCL SECReT) Date: Tuesday, 14 March 2017, 6pm-8pm Venue: Lecture Theatre G22, UCL Pearson Building (North Easton Entrance), University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT Each year UCL SECReT organises an open evening at which prospective students of the course can come along and learn more about the programme. The open evening includes presentations by programme leaders about the vision and goals of the centre, the modules involved in the course, our areas of research, and the wider activities that students will participate in as part of their four-year training programme, and also the application and scholarship award process. Students will be able to meet course academics and current students from the programme.

18-21 September 2017 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The Sexual Violence Research Initiative is proud to announce the 5th international conference, the SVRI Forum 2017. Through this event, the SVRI brings together over 450 researchers, gender activists, funders, policy makers, service providers, practitioners and survivors from around the world who are working to understand, prevent and respond to sexual and intimate partner violence. With the recent launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the 17 goals which the 193 UN member states have committed to achieving over the next 15 years – SVRI Forum 2017 is a timely space to discuss and share strategies for achieving SDG targets aimed at ending all forms of violence against women and girls. SVRI Forum 2017 will provide a platform for showcasing research and innovation in the field enabling participants to learn about new and tested interventions on how to end sexual violence, intimate partner violence and child abuse and maltreatment. The SVRI Forum 2017 will have various participation modalities including but not limited to: abstract-driven presentations to meetings, plenary and networking sessions, poster presentations, parallel events.

2017 will see a new UN Secretary-General taking office on the 38th Floor at UN Headquarters, following the end of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s second term. The new SG will be faced with a number of ongoing global, regional and other challenges, and will be confronted with new issues that will arise over time. The SG also will have the job of continuing to build on the momentum of recent milestone agreements, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Commitments to Action from the World Humanitarian Summit. The Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) now is accepting workshop paper and panel proposals for presentation at its thirtieth Annual Meeting, organized by the Korean Academic Council on the United Nations System (KACUNS), to be held 15–17 June 2017 at Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea. Current ACUNS members in good standing (including new or newly-renewed members) will be given priority consideration for their proposals, but non-members including senior graduate students and interested practitioners are welcome to submit proposals. The deadline for submitting a proposal for the Annual Meeting is Monday April 10, 2017. PLEASE NOTE: proposals will be accepted and evaluated, and panel spaces will be allotted, on a first-come rolling basis subsequent to the issuance of this Call. Once all panel spaces have been filled, a waiting list will be established for any subsequent proposals received.

February 23, 2017 By CSG Justice Center Staff Screenshot 2017-01-05 12.40.27The National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) released in January A Five-Level Risk and Needs System: Maximizing Assessment Results in Corrections through the Development of a Common Language, a white paper geared toward researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who share the goal of reducing recidivism by improving the application of risk and needs assessments. Developed with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the white paper presents a model to support the implementation of Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) principles through a standardized five-level risk and needs assessment system. Criminogenic risk and needs assessments provide a roadmap for effective correctional rehabilitation initiatives. When properly understood and implemented, they can help correctional organizations provide the types and dosages of services that are empirically related to reductions in reoffending. Although risk and needs assessment instruments are all intended to measure the same things, the field has not as yet set standards or specifications about the terminology used to describe risk and needs categories across all of these instruments. Over the past two years, the NRRC, in partnership with Public Safety Canada, has facilitated efforts to standardize the terminology associated with risk and needs levels and improve the interpretation and application of risk and needs assessment results in correctional settings. With expert guidance from a diverse group of collaborators, including researchers, risk and needs assessment instrument developers, practitioners, and leaders in the field; and drawing on extensive review of the literature and related research, observations of programs in the field, feedback from national experts, several multidisciplinary forums and advisory group discussions, and a rigorous review process, the paper provides the following: •An overview of the RNR principles, which are used by criminal justice professionals to identify a person’s risk of recidivism and allocate resources and deliver tailored services accordingly •A standardized five-level risk and needs assessment system to inform case planning, guide how corrections and criminal justice professionals classify risk and needs, and help identify people who can benefit most from intervention •Case examples to illustrate each of the five proposed risk and needs levels Additional research will be conducted to support the development of the five-level system for widespread use in the U.S. Through a partnership with the NRRC, Dr. Faye Taxman of George Mason University and Dr. Daryl Kroner of Southern Illinois University will examine multi-year data—including recidivism data and information on risk and needs—from various sources to further refine the five risk and needs levels for practical application in correctional settings. Upon refinement and validation of the five-level system, the NRRC and its partners then plan to pilot test the model in several sites across the country.