Prisons and desperation, a combination to be broken

(International News Press Agency) - Prisons and desperation, a combination to be broken. Prisons and desperation, a combination to be broken. President Mattarella also believes it is urgent to show greater respect for those detained and those who work there. The precious contribution of the 'VialedeiMille Consortium' of Milan in the paths of social and work reintegration in the words of Dr. Marika Del Zotti, Communication Manager of the association. After the recent episodes of suicides that occurred in some Italian penitentiaries, the innumerable reasons surrounding the profound desperation of those who "survive" behind bars are coming back to light.

Among these, detained women pay a very high price by living in a condition of double detention, isolated from their loved ones and limited from the possibility of undertaking reintegration paths. "The Italian penitentiary system is, in fact, designed mainly for men: with the exception of three specific institutions for women (Pozzuoli, Trani and Giudecca) and a pavilion dedicated to women in the Rebibbia prison, female prisoners are confined to male institutions , within separate sections where isolation is greater and the possibilities of participating in treatment activities are reduced to the bare minimum" - explains the Communication Manager.

A double detention aggravated by personal stories frequently marked by the violence suffered and the breakdown of family ties that detention often entails. Surveys on new forms of poverty indicate, in general, that women who are alone or left alone after a divorce represent a socially vulnerable category: this is a particularly widespread situation among detained women. This framework makes it even more crucial for women to move towards a residual nature of prison in favor of a non-custodial penalty and to invest in social reintegration paths, also through accompaniment to work, which can help women prisoners to acquire autonomy and rebuild their lives independently.

And it is in this sense that the precious work of the 'VialedeiMille Consortium' intervenes" - continues Dr. Del Zotti - "in its mission to support the restricted economy and the aforementioned social reintegration paths, dedicating particular attention to female detention. This year too, in fact, 'VialedeiMille' is one of the partners of 'Donne Oltre le Mura', a project aimed at vulnerable women involved in judicial proceedings or at the end of their sentence and detained in the Bollate and San Vittore penitentiary institutions or under the UEPE (Office for External Criminal Enforcement).

The project, aiming at social and work inclusion, offers personalized paths, temporary reception, socializing workshops, strengthening of the textile workshop in prison and the creation of new job opportunities. By focusing on awareness-raising, information and local support, the initiative aims to promote social inclusion, the restoration of family ties, sociability and work orientation, with the aim of reducing recidivism, limiting deviances and improving overall well-being" - concludes the Consortium Communicator. (Photo: ConsorzioVialedeiMille) (Italia News Press Agency - www.italianews.org)