REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS The rehabilitation needs of foreign female prisoners merit particular attention. Many are in prison for drug trafficking and are serving very long sentences. A large proportion of them are mothers and are particularly affected by the separation from, and lack of contact with, their children. Many come from socially and economically marginalised communities. Female migrant workers and trafficked women are particularly vulnerable in prison settings. Any rehabilitation programmes for foreign national prisoners need to take into account their individual situations, including the reason they were in the country of detention. For example, those who were arrested for drug smuggling upon entry to the country will have very different needs from women who were long-term residents or women who were living in the country legally as migrant workers. Other ways to support foreign national prisoners can include consultations with community representatives of foreign nationals, basic language courses and the availability of foreign-language books, and the use of e-learning courses for distance education. Authorities should also consider offering foreign national prisoners activities such as art, sport and music, which require less use of verbal communication. PROMISING PRACTICE: Distance learning for foreign national prisoners FORINER107 was a two-year pilot project funded by the European Commission. It provided foreign national prisoners from EU countries with access to education offered by their home country, while they were imprisoned in a foreign European country. Research had found that there were only limited or no educational materials available for foreign EU national prisoners, and that the financial resources to offer foreign prisoners education were too limited. During the project 36 students, including five women, enrolled on an educational course offered by their home country. An evaluation of the project found that the majority of students thought that participation in the courses would reduce the likelihood of recidivism and make it easier for them to find a job after prison. More than half the students indicated that they hoped participation in the course would improve their relationship with their family and friends. Ethnic and racial minorities and Indigenous prisoners The Bangkok Rules state that prison authorities must recognise that women prisoners from different religious and cultural backgrounds have distinctive needs and may face multiple forms of discrimination. Accordingly, prison authorities should provide comprehensive programmes and services that address these needs, in consultation with women prisoners themselves. Pre- and post-release services should also be appropriate and available to these groups of prisoners.108 Ethnic, racial minority and Indigenous prisoners are often overrepresented in prison systems and are particularly likely to have multiple needs due to their social and economic marginalisation. Many are drug and alcohol dependent. Indigenous female prisoners are statistically more likely to have been victims of domestic violence and are at particular risk of stigma and ostracisation from their communities. When they are released from prison, these groups may face particular barriers to rehabilitation and existing support services may not take into account their specific cultural needs. They are also likely to face discrimination when seeking housing, employment and social support. I want to do something here. I don’t want to waste my time. When I go back out, at least I have something that can help me in the future to start a new life. You have the chance to do something positive with your life. All people make mistakes, and from these mistakes you can learn. I now have the chance to start something that is positive. When I go out it can help me to get a job. Student who participated in the FORINER project (see Promising Practice above) 44 | Penal Reform International and Thailand Institute of Justice | Guide to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of women prisoners