iii) Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) The Commission on Gender Equality is also enshrined in the South African 1996 Constitution as one of the organs supporting democracy. Established in 1997, the CGE’s main mandate is to ensure equal treatment between women and men in all spheres of life. In relation to detentions, the CGE has done very little. It has however, initiated a research project to look at the treatment of female juveniles and children in prison with their mothers. iv) National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO) NICRO is the only national NGO that provides comprehensive crime prevention services and works for the reintegration of offenders in South Africa. It is the main provider of diversion services for children in South Africa, and has been providing these services since 1992. NICRO handles more than 10, 000 diversion cases each year in all nine provinces. Prior to admitting children to a NICRO programme, NICRO carries out an internal assessments of the children.11 v) Creative Education for Youth at Risk (CRED) The Creative Education of Youth at Risk (CRED) was established in 1996 by a group of young workers and artists who recognised the need to work in prison with youths awaiting trial. It started with a pilot project in youth development using visual arts and dance as a medium. In 1998 a comprehensive needs assessment was conducted with 100 youth at Pollsmoor prison. Based on the needs assessment the project was extended to 200 youths awaiting trial. During this needs assessment and pilot project, the group realized that youths awaiting trial did not have access to school, proper health care, social services and contact with their families. CRED was therefore established to address these needs. The organization has a staff strength of 11 – a director, a financial administrator a receptionist and 8 programme-related staff. It also has one volunteer and receives interns from all over the globe. The objectives of the organisation include inter alia, • • assisting the reintegration of released youth into society, promoting crime prevention and awareness in communities and schools. The organisation targets youths between the ages of 14 to 25 who have been released from correctional institutions. According to CRED, several post release risk factors have been identified among these youths, namely, inadequate education, homelessness, unemployment, 11 For more on the activities of NICRO and their work in prisons across South Africa visit their website on www.nicro.org.za. 33 Special Rapporteur on Prisons Mission to South Africa 14 – 30 June 2004