The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) released a report today (17th) assessing the progress of gender equality education in correctional Institutions. The findings indicate that, although participation rates in gender mainstreaming training have noticeably increased, there is still much room for improvement when it comes to the quality of the training. The NHRC recommends drawing on international best practices and UN guidelines to develop tailored training materials and programs aimed at integrating gender equality education into the correctional workforce.
The NHRC highlighted its partnerships with government agencies and civic society groups to advance human rights and oversee the promotion of human rights education by government entities. A primary goal of its “2023-2026 Medium-Term Strategic Plan” is to elevate awareness of human rights among correctional and judicial personnel. The NHRC has examined international human rights standards and evaluated gender mainstreaming education and training initiatives in correctional institutions from 2018 to 2022, recognizing that key UN human rights conventions and international benchmarks strongly advocate for gender equality in correctional environments. This evaluation serves as the foundation for the report.
The report indicates that since the Ministry of Justice implemented gender mainstreaming education in 2014, there has been a general increase in participation rates for gender equality training within the Agency of Corrections and its affiliated institutions. However, between 2018 and 2022, over 40% of these institutions recorded an average participation rate that fell below the Ministry of Justice 's Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of 90%. Correctional schools, in particular, struggled the most, achieving an average participation rate of only 65% during this five-year span. While staff members involved in inmate counseling, management, or overseeing gender equality training tended to perform better, their participation still did not meet the Ministry of Justice 's KPI, with the exception of personnel at drug rehabilitation centers and juvenile detention facilities.
The NHRC also brought attention to insights from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights training manual—Human Rights and Prisons: Manual on Human Rights Training for Prison Officials—which underscores that the most effective way to prevent discrimination is for all employees, especially those in leadership positions, to maintain a fair and unbiased approach. The report further examined the training participation of supervisors in correctional institutions. Although the overall participation rate reached 90%, more than 20% of supervisors had an average training participation rate below the KPI over the last five years. The NHRC also noted that participation in advanced gender equality training for staff dealing with gender-related issues remains low, averaging just 60%. Alarmingly, nearly 20% of institutions reported a 0% participation rate for such training each year from 2018 to 2022. Furthermore, almost 20% of these institutions, particularly those working with juvenile inmates, indicated that they had no staff assigned to address gender-related concerns.
The NHRC has put forward four key recommendations to enhance the future promotion and implementation of gender equality education in correctional facilities:
- Draw on international experience to develop localized training programs.
- Task the Correctional Personnel Training Center with evaluating the feasibility of integrating gender mainstreaming education into professional courses based on specific job responsibilities, while strengthening gender awareness training for supervisory personnel.
- Develop mechanisms for monitoring and supporting the implementation of gender mainstreaming education at correctional schools, now that the newly revised “Gender Equity Education Act” (2023) applies to juvenile correctional schools.
- Place greater emphasis on the participation of personnel handling gender-related matters in advanced training courses.