This training curriculum is designed to help develop knowledge and skills
among criminal justice officials and policymakers to implement the United Nations
Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for
Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules) and related international standards and
norms. The curriculum is intended to be used in conjunction with the Commentary
of the Bangkok Rules and the UNODC Handbook on Women and Imprisonment
(hereinafter referred to as “UNODC Handbook”), which provides further information, examples and good practices. Additional materials, including online training courses in different languages, are available from UNODC, UN Women, OHCHR and Penal Reform International (PRI).
The training curriculum contains 12 modules that focus on the different subject
areas of the Bangkok Rules. Module 1 covers general issues related to discrimination
against women who are offenders or prisoners and ways to address such discrimination in line with international standards and norms. Modules 2 to 10 cover issues
related to prison management that are most relevant for prison staff and managers.
Module 11 deals with the research, planning and evaluation that is needed for more
effective policy formulation and programme development concerning offending,
imprisonment and social reintegration of women. The final module relates to the different non-custodial and other measures that can be taken by legislators and
policymakers and by lawyers, prosecutors, judges, probation services or other service
providers to help reduce the female prison population.
A number of materials are included as annexes at the end of this training curriculum.
In addition to handout materials for participants (annex I), it includes a set of test
questions and answers (true or false) for each module (annex II). These tests can
be used to achieve different goals, including: (a) to focus the minds of the participants on the area in question; (b) to assess how much participants already know;
and (c) to assess how much they have learned at the end of the training module.
Annex III contains a brief guide to adult education, training methodology and specific techniques that can be used and adapted to match the level or cultural background of participants. Finally, there is also a course evaluation form (annex IV) that
can be used to collect feedback from participants at the conclusion of training.
I.
Introduction
to the curriculum
II.
Introduction:
the specific needs of women prisoners
III.
Curriculum
outline
a.
Module
1. Identifying the needs of women prisoners and addressing discrimination
b.
Module
2. Admission, registration and allocation
c.
Module
3. Health care
d.
Module
4. Safety and security
e.
Module
5. Contact with the outside world
f.
Module
6. Prisoner rehabilitation
g.
Module
7. Pregnant women and women with children in prison
h.
Module
8. Special categories of women prisoners
i.
Module
9. Preparation for release and post-release support
j.
Module
10. Staff working with women prisoners
k.
Module
11. Research, planning and evaluation
l.
Module
12. Non-custodial measures
Annex I.
Handout materials for participants; II. Test questions and answers; III.
Training of trainers: background material; IV. Background on mental health and
related issues in prisons; V. End-of-workshop evaluation
UNODC
UNODC (2015). Training curriculum on Women and Imprisonment. Version 1.0. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Training curriculum on Women and Imprisonment, Version 1.0 (unodc.org)
