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Yellow Ribbon Initiative Expands Across Europe 

Yellow Ribbon Growing Strategically Together second roundtable organized by the Yellow Ribbon project took place on Wednesday 5 February in Prague, Czech Republic. CEP Policy Officer Mirka Jakesova attended the meeting, which outlined the next steps in building and further developing the Yellow Ribbon European Hub. The hub aims to bring together European probation and prison services, along with other partners from the criminal justice sector, to support the integration of individuals with a criminal past. This will be achieved through organizing runs, as well as awareness-raising and educational activities under the YRR initiative.  

The project, supported by bilateral cooperation with the Norwegian Prison Service, began in 2016 in Czechia through the efforts of Ms. Gabriela Slovakova, the current director of the NGO Yellow Ribbon, with support of the Czech Prison Service, Probation and Mediation Service, and NGO Rubikon Centrum. It introduced its newly redesigned brand which will be standardized across all countries joining the initiative. The roundtable also welcomed representatives from Singapore, where the Yellow Ribbon Run originated 20 years ago. Additionally, representatives from Croatia and Lithuania, who both organized pilot runs in 2024, shared their experiences with the participants. 

The 10th edition of the Yellow Ribbon Run will take place on 10 June 2025 in Prague, Czech Republic and the 2nd edition of the Yelllow Ribbon Run will take place on 19 March in Zagreb, Croatia.  

The official press release is available here.  

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