Nearly one million children in the European Union have a parent in prison. In addition to being separated from their parent, these children frequently experience trauma linked to the stigma and discrimination of having a parent in prison and violation of their rights. In Bulgaria, an estimated 12,500 children have a father in prison.
Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) is a European network based in France that has been working on behalf of children who have a parent in prison since its founding in 2000 — supporting initiatives that maintain and strengthen the child-parent relationship, and helping to safeguard the future of these children. The network brings together practitioners, child professionals, prison directors, educators, law researchers, psychologists and other NGOs, in 24 countries in Europe. COPE, in partnership with the Sofia-based association Child & Space, launched a parent support initiative, Papa Plus, at Sofia Prison in Bulgaria on September 19 and 20.
The backdrop to the Papa Plus initiative
COPE with Child & Space have conducted an action together in Sliven Prison, the only women’s prison in Bulgaria, with the participation of over twenty prison officers and social inspector staff. The backdrop to the initiative was to learn more about prison staff experiences with imprisoned fathers and children visiting them in prison; to highlight the situation of those parents not in contact with their children; and to look at the various ways in which prison impacts the child-parent relationship and makes it difficult for some parents to remain a parent in prison. The ultimate aim of Papa Plus is to enhance the protection of children’s rights and wellbeing.
Psychological studies show multiple risks to the child-parent relationship
A wide range of psychological studies have shown that children with an inmate parent are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing multiple ill-effects if no intervention is provided to help them cope with the situation. In addition to interrupting the care of the child, the child may be exposed to financial difficulties, family break-up and stigma. It has been shown that quality regular contact with an imprisoned mother or father can help to promote the child’s healthy development and resilience.
The Papa Plus video
Papa Plus Bulgaria, featuring a video produced by COPE with the backing of the European Commission, is based on a support initiative carried out by Child & Space for incarcerated mothers in Sliven Prison. Papa Plus Bulgaria is the first time that COPE is using the Papa Plus video with prison staff; it will serve to help build awareness and support practice in other prisons in Bulgaria. Discussions over the two days highlighted some of the challenges of maintaining contact between children and their imprisoned fathers — structural challenges and insufficient support staff and access to visits opportunities, for starters. Some participants felt that many ideas from the Papa Plus video could not be implemented at Sofia Prison. Some participants in the two-day discussions highlighted their commitment to overcoming the challenges and working to support imprisoned fathers and their children, highlighting how their awareness of the importance of working to support the child-parent bond had grown as a result of discussions. Many highlighted the need to support fathers in communicating with their children about their incarceration. Others saw ways to enhance existing initiatives to better support the relationship — by including children in workshops in which fathers are making objects or producing artwork, for example.
Several initiatives supporting family ties have been carried out at Sofia Prison, for example revolving around art and art therapy. Participants voiced the crucial need to systematize support initiatives and workshops, as many are easily shut down when security challenges arise. All project partners need to work more and reflect together to offer concrete ways for accessing further help in seeing that this happens.
_______________
The overall backdrop to the Papa Plus initiative is Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)5 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States concerning children with imprisoned parents, in particular Articles 26 through 27.5:
Selection
26. Persons who work with prisoners who are parents shall be selected on criteria that include child-aware sensitivity, interaction skills and abilities to support the child–parent relationship.
Training
27.1. Staff involved in the admission of prisoners who are parents shall be appropriately trained to interact with them in a sensitive manner.
27.2. Training shall be provided to all persons who work with children of prisoners and with imprisoned parents on the following: how to respect children’s needs and rights; the impact of imprisonment and the prison setting on children, the parental role; how to support prisoner-parents and better understand the particular problems faced by such prisoners.
27.3. Such training should include making visits child-friendly and how to search children appropriately.
27.4. Training programmes shall be evaluated and revised regularly to ensure they reflect changing populations and social circumstances and up-to-date practice.
27.5. Persons who deal with children of prisoners shall be kept informed of current national law and practices and international and regional human rights law and standards relating to children, including this recommendation.