26th June 2007
The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament is organizing a public hearing in Brussels entitled “Women in Prison” on June 26, 2007. Chaired by Slovak MEP Anna Zaborska, the hearing will focus on an initiative report sponsored by Greek MEP Marie-Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou entitled “Women in Prison and the Impact of Incarceration of Parents on Family and Social Life,” and will feature presentations by a panel of experts.
Alain Bouregba of the Fédération des Relais Enfants Parents and vice-president of Eurochips will speak about the importance of maintaining family ties when a parent is imprisoned and the role they play in resettlement. Other experts include Ms Mercedes Gallizo Llamas, Director-General of the Penitentiary Institutions in Spain ; Ms Sonja Kurtén-Vartio, Doctor in Political Sciences at Åbo Akademi , Finland ; and Ms Gabriele Grote-Kux, Senate Department for Justice of the City of Berlin, Germany.
The event will include a debate and general question-and-answer session. The Public Hearing is open to the public. For security reasons, participants who do not have a European Parliament access badge must obtain a pass in advance.