Description
The main objective of the project is to reduce violence between prisoners based on discrimination and xenophobia by training inmates in development of tolerance and acceptance of differences. This process will contribute to their more effective reintegration into society and improve their opportunities for social inclusion and refrain from committing new crimes. Specific objectives include: • Identifying needs for implementation of interventions for prisoners with different ethnic backgrounds, including Roma through analysis of practices in three major prisons in Bulgaria; • Prevention of violence between prisoners based on discrimination and xenophobia by means of programming work with prisoners with minorities, including Roma and training staff in its application; • Increasing the competencies of the employees working with prisoners with minorities, including Roma for use of all resources in prevention of recurrence and successful social inclusion of vulnerable groups The main target groups are prisoners of minorities with focus on Roma minority.Their inclusion in specialized programs targeted to their specific needs, based on cultural, social and other differences will increase their competences. The other target group of the project is prison staff. In this regard, 20 prison officials from prisons in Stara Zagora, Pleven and Sofia will be trained to implement the program and in the course of their training they will gain additional skills to recognize and prevent discrimination, xenophobia or racism among prisoners.
Summary of project results
The project `Tolerance in prison - tolerance in life` has focused on the problems of growing aggression, provoked by discriminatory and xenophobic attitudes in society and in the prisons in particular, and on the other hand the lack of specialized program aimed at preventing prison violence, based on discrimination and xenophobia among prisoners from minorities, including Roma, and the lack of accordingly qualified staff. The project has counteracted the problems through training of prisoners in developing skills for tolerance and acceptance of differences. An initial study has been carried out on the practice and standards for treatment of prisoners from minorities, including Roma, in prison Stara Zagora, prison Sofia and prison Pleven. Focus groups and surveys involved in total of 61 inmates and 51 employees in the penitentiary establishments. Analysis and assessment of needs for enhancing the competence and awareness of prison staff have been also performed, according to individual characteristics of the target group. Basing on these studies a training programme for working with prisoners from minorities including Roma has been developed and introduced by training 32 employees from the pilot prisons. The trained staff subsequently piloted the programme among 80 prisoners from minorities including Roma, in the pilot prisons. As a result the involved prison staff members improved their practical knowledge for conducting group trainings and group work with prisoners. They learned the specifics of the developed programme and gained skills for coping with discrimination, prevention of behavior based on prejudice, cognitive biases and stereotypes, and dealing with conflict situations arising within the group process
Summary of bilateral results