The Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), in collaboration with the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA), organized the Women in Corrections Conference (WICC) 2025 from February 19-21, 2025, at TIJ Building in Bangkok, Thailand. The conference aimed to raise awareness about academic research, practical experience, and international standards while enhancing discussion on women's imprisonment at the global level. This gathering held particular significance as it commemorated the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 21, 2010.
The conference brought together 350 participants from 56 countries, including representatives from correctional agencies, international and domestic organizations, practitioners, and members of the public. These diverse stakeholders engaged in meaningful dialogue, sharing experiences, research, and best practices to develop concrete solutions and establish a new paradigm. Key themes included imprisonment and pathways into prison, successful reintegration and alternatives to custodial measures, policy implementation, women working in corrections, and cohort-specific responses.
Complementing the conference discussions, an exclusive exhibition titled "Through a Different Lens" showcased over 90 personal items selected by women with lived and living prison experiences from Costa Rica, Thailand, South Africa, Philippines, and Singapore. This installation, organized in collaboration with Bangkok University's School of Architecture, offered a unique perspective on incarceration through the eyes of prisoners.
In his opening speech, Dr. Phiset Sa-srdyen, TIJ Executive Director, emphasized that this milestone anniversary of the Bangkok Rules highlights both the progress achieved and the challenges ahead in addressing gender-specific needs of women in correctional systems worldwide. He expressed hope that participants would learn from each other, exchange ideas, and forge new partnerships to strive for a new chapter of collaboration, innovation, and lasting change for women in corrections.
While Executive Director Natalie Boal and President Peter Severin of ICPA underscored the significance of the conference, which coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Bangkok Rules in 2025. They also emphasized the remarkable achievements made in women's corrections over the last decade and a half, while also stressing the work that remains.
