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CEP Secretary General Jana Špero Kamenjarin at Multilateral Meeting on Women in Prison
On 12 and 13 November 2025, CEP Secretary General Jana Špero Kamenjarin participated in the Multilateral Meeting on Women in Prison: Advancing Gender-Sensitive Policies and Practices, at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The meeting brought together representatives from 40 member states, penitentiary administrations, and international experts, united by a shared commitment to improving rehabilitation, reducing re-offending, and promoting gender equality in places of deprivation of liberty.
Jana Špero Kamenjarin presented on gender sensitive alternatives to pre-trial detention and sentencing, highlighting the importance of recognising the different pathways women take into the justice system and the need to strengthen community-based measures. She underlined that attention to gender should not be limited to prisons, but must also include probation, where appropriate support can make a significant difference in rehabilitation and reintegration.
The meeting coincided with the fifteenth anniversary of the United Nations Bangkok Rules. Across two days, the discussions focused on the specific needs of women in detention, their access to health care and support services, and the relevance of staff training and institutional leadership in creating environments that are responsive to gender. The programme also included a dedicated workshop designed to support women in managerial positions within penitentiary services and to encourage cooperation, professional development, and well-being.
For CEP, this participation reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to promoting gender equality within community sanctions and measures. CEP is proud to host the Expert Group on Gender-Based Violence and to advance the principles set out in the CEP Gender Equality and Diversity Policy, which guide its work across Europe.
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