ABSTRACT

Both work and education are considered human rights according to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Project work has so far been applied with allegedly positive results in Denmark and Sweden to unemployed juvenile delinquents who lack a complete education, vocational training or work experience. According to modern concepts, prison labour opportunities are provided to furnish prisoners with skills, knowledge and work experience, which is intended to improve their ability to find employment after release and thereby increase their prospects of re-integration into society. Thus vocational training, education and remuneration have emerged as new, important features which play a crucial role in the concept of rehabilitation. As to vocational training, the situation seems to have improved during the five years from 1990. The opportunities for receiving appropriate education in prisons differ considerably from country to country.