The workshop in the Klagenfurt correctional institution must be expanded as soon as possible.
The NPM advocates that the cells of juvenile detainees remain open longer on the weekends
in the Innsbruck and Graz-Jakomini correctional institutions. To avoid violent assaults between
juvenile detainees, there must be a structured and balanced daily routine with the shortest
possible lock-up times. Personnel shortages may not adversely affect juveniles.
Discrimination against women with respect to employment opportunities
Discrimination against women has led the NPM to continue its focus
on “women in prison”. Of particular note in this regard is the fact that
women, as compared to male inmates, are treated less favourably
with respect to employment opportunities.
In-depth discussion
This discrimination is particularly prevalent in court prisons. A women’s
employment rate of about 20%, as is the case in the Klagenfurt
correctional institution, is the highest employment rate for female
detainees in Austria. It is also open to criticism that the activities of
female prisoners are mainly restricted to cleaning services.
Too few opportunities to
work
As the Austrian Court of Auditors stated in a report dated August 2015
(Report of the Court of Auditors 2015/12, p. 161), the conditions for
women in court prisons are significantly less favourable than for men
in terms of training and employment. The same holds true with
respect to advanced training measures for female inmates. The NPM
finds that the potential “has not been exhausted even with respect to
short-term training”. Therefore, the NPM advocates an expansion of
employment and training opportunities for female detainees.
Criticism from the Court
of Auditors
It is true that a manufacturer of women’s delicates has had its
packaging work performed in the Wiener Neustadt correctional
institution since December 2014, which created seven to ten jobs for
female inmates held there. Apart from this improvement in an
individual case, the Federal Ministry of Justice had to concede to the
NPM that there was still a need for action with respect to the housing,
employment opportunities and care needs of women in prison.
Minimum standards should now be developed for women in prison.
Since the Ministry shares the opinion of the NPM that the requirement
of separation pursuant to Section 8 (4) the Penitentiary System Act
does not prevent men and women from working together, the NPM
advocates an expansion of the employment opportunities available to
male inmates to include women in light of the positive experiences in
this area thus far.
Equal employment
opportunities for
women and men
Employment opportunities for women must also be created in court prisons.
Business workshops in correctional institutions should also be open to women; joint
performance of work by women and men in private companies should be promoted.
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