مؤسسة حياه للتنمية والدمج المجتمعي Development and community integration
After years of working on implementing rehabilitation and integration programs for former prisoners, I cannot help but express my deep frustration with the lack of governmental support, funding, and sustainability in these programs. Despite the remarkable successes and excellent results achieved by our institution, Life for Development and Social Integration, in reducing recidivism rates, we still face significant challenges in providing the necessary support for self-employment programs, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as supporting the reintegration of ex-prisoners into entrepreneurship and providing fair job opportunities regardless of their criminal history.
From long periods of probation due to court rulings as subsidiary penalties to the original sentence to the difficulty of obtaining retribution only through court rulings and after relatively long periods to the impossibility of being employed in governmental institutions, not to mention the refusal of loans from banks or even obtaining licenses for a mobile vehicle.
When we had the honor of serving as an institution providing rehabilitation and integration services for former prisoners and at-risk groups…
“Empowering Former Prisoners in Egypt: Overcoming Social Stigma and Seeking Opportunities”
After years of working in implementing rehabilitation and integration programs for former prisoners, I cannot help but express my deep frustration with the lack of governmental support, funding, and sustainability in these programs. Despite the remarkable successes and excellent results achieved by our institution, Life for Development and Social Integration, in reducing recidivism rates, we still face significant challenges in providing the necessary support for self-employment programs, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as supporting the reintegration of ex-prisoners into entrepreneurship and providing fair job opportunities regardless of their criminal history.
From long periods of probation due to court rulings as subsidiary penalties to the original sentence to the difficulty of obtaining retribution only through court rulings and after relatively long periods to the impossibility of being employed in governmental institutions, not to mention the refusal of loans from banks or even obtaining licenses for a mobile vehicle.
When we had the honor of serving as an institution providing rehabilitation and integration services for former prisoners and at-risk groups…
Joining the stakeholders in the political and economic axis of the Human Rights Committee within the framework of the national dialogue, we felt pride and success in starting to achieve our goals for participating in the development of a fair and effective system for social integration for this less fortunate category in need of care. Therefore, we submitted more than nine files containing important legislative and executive programs and amendments. These programs may contribute to redefining the mechanisms of support and social integration for former prisoners, alleviating the burden of this disabled workforce on the state, consisting of individuals at risk of returning to crime due to poverty, poor living conditions, and stigma after their release.
After the delay in discussing these files due to the priority given to discussing the files of the current economic crisis, which we completely understand, isn’t it now time to reconsider these files and discuss them again? After the success in mitigating the economic crisis and facing it with all achievement and success and skill…
Isn’t it time in Egypt, as a state and a society, to recognize the transformative impact of providing empowerment opportunities, entrepreneurship, and work for former prisoners for a future where individuals are given the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society?
We must never let former prisoners die psychologically and socially due to a prison experience or a sentence, whatever its causes, as long as they have voluntarily complied with a court ruling to complete their sentence. Therefore, there must be various programs to support small projects and self-employment for the benefit of former prisoners, supported by the state, and one of the most important factors for the success of the reintegration of former prisoners is the availability of community support and opportunities.
We, as an institution, directed this article using all available means, in addition to the national mechanism for rehabilitation and social integration developed by the team at my institution, to His Excellency the President of the Republic, to all governmental institutions, to the Pardon Committee, and to the Human Rights Committee in the national dialogue, urging as a civil institution to resume the societal dialogue on supporting former prisoners and their social integration, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive program supported by the state and sustainable for the integration of former prisoners to rebuild their lives, reduce violence and crime rates, and prevent discrimination and social stigma.
