Network News
World Children’s Day – Children with a parent in prison
“We children have done nothing wrong, so why do you punish us when our parents go to jail?” - boy, 14 years old, Ireland As we mark World Children’s Day today 20 November 2024, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is thinking of all the children who have a parent(s)...
IPRT Action for Children and Families of Prisoners Network meets new Irish Prison Service Family Connections Officer
On Tuesday 10 September 2024, members of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) Action for Children and Families of Prisoners Network met in person for their fourth meeting of 2024. Representatives from IPRT, Bedford Row, New Directions, Traveller Justice Initiative,...
Invitation to Tender: Exploring the financial impact on children and families in Ireland when a family member is imprisoned
**The deadline has been extended until 12noon Monday 7 October 2024** Invitation to Tender Exploring the financial impact on children and families in Ireland when a family member is imprisoned About IPRT Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is Ireland’s principal...
IPRT submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on children’s rights to access to justice and effective remedies
On 23 August 2024, Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on its draft General Comment No. 27 on children’s rights to access to justice and effective remedies. This General Comment aims to clarify the terms, approaches...
IPRT reflects on children’s responses on how to make prison spaces more child-friendly for children visiting a parent
How can we make prison spaces more child-friendly for children visiting a parent? Children’s responses to an online consultation with Children of prisoners Europe (COPE) Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) previously estimated that approximately 5,000 children...
Round Up: Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) International Conference
From Wednesday 12 June 2024 until Friday 14 June 2024, Irish Penal Reform Trust Children and Families Project Coordinator Ashling Tobin travelled to Berlin, Germany to attend the Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) annual international conference. The conference was...
When a family member goes to prison – sketches of young people’s lived experience
Researchers from Newcastle University have launched a series of sketches which illustrate young people's lived experience of having a family member in prison in England and Wales. Brought to life with the help of illustrator Jack Brougham, they follow the journeys of...
Children of Prisoners Europe: How can we make prison spaces more child-friendly for children visiting a parent?
Building on an online child consultation developed by COPE and disseminated by members and affiliates, including Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), the following report presents a detailed analysis of forty-eight children’s responses regarding their experiences and...
IPRT’s response to the Child Poverty Monitor and Cost of Living Report 2024
Following the publications of the Children’s Rights Alliance’s Child Poverty Monitor 2024 and Barnardos’ Cost of Living Report 2024, we are now aware that 236,910 children in Ireland experience enforced deprivation, with 47 per cent of parents cutting back on...
Meeting of the Action for Children and Families of Prisoners Network
On Thursday 11 March 2024, the Action for Children and Families of Prisoners Network joined together online for their second meeting of 2024. The meeting welcomed a presentation from the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP), launched a new network communications...