New project: Nordic-Russian co-operation for the social integration, prevention of marginalisation and protection of human rights for female prisoners

This one-year pilot project (1.8.2018 – 31.7.2019) aims to establish a Nordic-Russian experts network, ensuring exchange of experiences and best practices for human rights defense, social inclusion and prevention of marginalization of female prisoners. The project is coordinated by the Centre of Nordic Studies, University of Helsinki and partners include "Center for international and informational exchanges in sphere of human rights, "Enlightenment" (Russia), Stiftelsen Kvinnekollektivet ARKEN (Oslo), Petrozavodsk State University (Russia) and IRES institute for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Uppsala University (Sweden). The project is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers' Nordic-Russian co-operation program aiming to strengthen civil society and cross-border co-operation, and thus contribute to the development of the region. Altogether 27 co-operation projects in the Baltic Sea region and northwest Russia got funding.

The ambition of the project is to establish a Nordic-Russian experts network, ensuring exchange of experiences and best practices for human rights defense, social inclusion and prevention of marginalization of female prisoners. The project will strengthen civil society and foster cooperation between authorities, educational research institutions, and NGOs for combating gender discrimination, improvement social services, and wellbeing for female prisoners.

The objective of the project is to study the current situation of female former prisoners in Northwest Russia (St. Petersburg and Republic of Karelia), and to develop tools for their protection, social inclusion, and prevention of discrimination by strengthening civil society and cooperation between NGOs and local authorities. It will be done in cooperation with Nordic experts and research on the base of Nordic expertise, practice of relevant Nordic institutions, and Nordic principals of human rights protection.

The project had its first expert meeting in Helsinki 31.10.-2.11.2018 to exchange and study Nordic and Russian knowledge, practice and experiences. The meeting included a visit to Vanaja Prison in Hämeenlinna.  The visit was hosted by the Director of Vanaja prison Kaisa Tammi-Moilanen, who gave a presentation “Finish female prison life in reality” and presented the detention conditions in the Finish open prison. Open prisons have been around in Finland since about the 1930s, making Finland a pioneer in the world penitentiary practice. Finland uses 'open prison' model to reintegrate prisoners.

The implementing body is Department of Cultures, Centre for Nordic Studies, at the University of Helsinki. Project leader is Dr. Larisa Kangaspuro, co-project leader is Professor Peter Stadius.

For more information on the project visit the project website for .