Diminished agency is a common phenomenon experienced by parents in prison. In addition to their alienative effects through social and physical isolation and a loss of personal responsibility, prisons constrain the exercise of key parental functions such as providing financial support, protection, discipline and care and can have an adverse impact on parenting capacities, as … Read More
Year: 2016
Congratulations to Alain Bouregba and Nancy Loucks
Congratulations to Dr. Alain Bouregba, President of Fédération Relais Enfants Parents, and Nancy Loucks, Chief Executive of Families Outside, on their recent honours recognising the contribution they have made to public life in France and the United Kingdom respectively. Dr. Alain Bouregba, the founder and former President of the COPE Network, was awarded the rank … Read More
COPE presents at final conference of the MA#ME project
As a primer to COPE’s upcoming conference in Zagreb next May, representatives of the COPE network contributed to a conference on February 2 marking the close of the Croatian two-year EU-funded MAME project, piloted and implemented by the NGO RODA for imprisoned mothers separated from their children at Pozega Prison (read more here). One of … Read More
Skype calls introduced for prisoners at HMP Magilligan, Northern Ireland
As of November, prisoners in HMP Magilligan in Northern Ireland have been allowed access to Skype as part of a new initiative to help prisoners maintain contact with their families. The scheme is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK and was introduced following an earlier trial in the prison. Access … Read More
1977 UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners
Adopted by the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held at Geneva in 1955, and approved by the Economic and Social Council by its resolution 663 C (XXIV) of July 31, 1957 and 2076 (LXII) of May 13, 1977. One of the underlying principles of the SMR … Read More
COPE presents at final conference of MA#ME project, Croatia
COPE played a crucial role in Croatia this week, at a conference marking the close of the two-year EU-funded MA#ME project, piloted and implemented by the NGO RODA for imprisoned mothers separated from their children at Pozega Prison. One of the findings of the project was that 50 to 60 % of children in Croatia do not … Read More
COPE meets with Julie Ward MEP at European Parliament
On the 12th January, COPE visited the European Parliament to meet with MEP Julie Ward to discuss the issues facing children of prisoners and to present her with pledge cards written by children from across Europe. The pledge cards, written by children of prisoners who are in contact with our network members, express, in their … Read More
4 Feb 2016: QUNO Briefing on UN Nelson Mandela Rules
The Quaker United Nations Office Geneva (QUNO) will co-host a briefing on the new revised UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (known as the “Nelson Mandela Rules”), the key set of international standards on detention conditions and the treatment of prisoners. For information about the Nelson Mandela Rules, COPE recommends this short explainer video … Read More
Final Conference of the MA#ME Project, Zagreb, Croatia, 2 February
The MA#ME project will host its final conference at the Palace Hotel, Zagreb, on Tuesday 2 February, from 11.00-16.00. The conference will be attended by panelists from Croatia and elsewhere in Europe, and Croatian-English and English-Croatian translations will be provided throughout the event. Speakers will include the Director of COPE, Liz Ayre, COPE board member … Read More
Colloque Parentalité et détention: Relais Enfants Parents Romands
L’Institut de psychologie, Université de Lausanne et la Fondation REPR, Relais Enfants Parents Romands, ont le plaisir de vous inviter à la prochaine journée de Colloque : Parentalité & Détention Prendre soin du lien enfant-parent : un axe de prévention de la récidive ? Date : mardi 9 février 2016 Lieu : Salle 1612, Géopolis-Mouline, … Read More