News
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.
Related News
Keep up to date with the latest developments, stories, and updates on probation from across Europe and beyond. Find relevant news and insights shaping the field today.
Probation Journal
juvenile offenders, Probation in Europe
Overview of Probation Procedures for Juveniles and Adults in Albania
22/07/2026
The Albanian Probation Service plays an important role in the implementation of alternative sanctions and measures for both juveniles and adults. Through supervision, assessment, and rehabilitation-oriented interventions, the Service aims to support compliance with court decisions, reduce the risk of reoffending, and promote the successful reintegration of individuals into society.
Community Sanctions and Measures
Nelson Mandela day
18/07/2026
Nelson Mandela Day reminds us that justice is not only about accountability – it is also about hope. Mandela believed in the dignity of every person and in the possibility of change. These principles are at the heart of probation.
Across Europe, probation professionals work every day to support people in taking responsibility for their actions, rebuilding their lives and successfully reintegrating into their communities. By promoting rehabilitation, social inclusion and human dignity, probation helps reduce reoffending and contributes to safer, more resilient societies.
New
CEP
Meet Ruth Armstrong, CEP’s new Research Policy Officer
14/07/2026
In early July 2026, Ruth Armstrong joined CEP as a Research Policy Officer. This is a new part-time role supporting the implementation of CEP’s Research and Development Strategy. Working with the Secretary General and the Expert Group on Research, Ruth will coordinate CEP’s research activities, exploring and building partnerships in research between academics and practitioners across Probation in Europe where members access, question and use evidence in their everyday work.
Recap
CJPE summer course, Gender-based violence
She Matters: Advancing Gender-Responsive Criminal Justice Through Cross-Sector Learning in Barcelona.
13/07/2026
From 7 to 10 July 2026, more than 60 criminal justice professionals from across Europe and beyond gathered in Barcelona for the 8th Criminal Justice Platform Europe (CJPE) Summer Course, hosted by the Centre for Legal Studies and Specialised Training (CEJFE) of the Government of Catalonia. Bringing together professionals from probation, restorative justice and prisons, the Summer Course once again demonstrated the unique value of cross-sector learning, international cooperation and professional exchange.
Reading corner
Probation in Europe
Dohľad
08/07/2026
The authentic world of probation and mediation, in which professional work intersects with human destinies, is brought to you by the publication through case studies revealing the diverse life stories of convicts and the dynamics of their relationship with probation and mediation officers.
Probation Journal
CEP
New Publication: CEP, Probation and the Digital Future
02/07/2026
The latest issue of the Journal of Offender Monitoring features an English version of Gerry McNally’s chapter, CEP, Probation and the Digital Future, first published in 2023 as part of the Portuguese book Execução das Penas e Medidas na Comunidade no Futuro Digital, edited by Nuno Caiado.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.