UNICRI contributes to Kyoto meeting on reducing reoffending and advancing the Kyoto Model Strategies

From 26-28 June 2026, UNICRI participated in the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network (PNI) Experts' Meeting on Reducing Reoffending, held at the Kyoto International Conference Center in Kyoto, Japan. The meeting, hosted by the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI), focused on enhancing the contribution of the PNI to the implementation of the United Nations Model Strategies on Reducing Reoffending, also known as the Kyoto Model Strategies.

The meeting brought together representatives from PNI institutes and partner organizations across different regions. Participants included Douglas Durán Chavarría, Director of the United Nations Latin American Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (ILANUD); Peter M. German, President and Executive Director of the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR); Jisun Choi, Director of the External Affairs Office and Research Fellow at the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice (KICJ); Josh Ounsted, Thematic Leader for Rule of Law and Access to Justice at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI); Phiset Sa-Ardyen, Executive Director, together with Napat Rakkitsiri, Project Coordinator, from the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ); and Matthew Burnett-Stuart, Programme Management Officer at the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).

Matthew Burnett-Stuart contributed to discussions on practical approaches to reducing reoffending, strengthening rehabilitation and reintegration, and supporting Member States in implementing evidence-based and context-sensitive criminal justice policies.

A key focus of UNICRI's contribution was its ongoing work with UNAFEI on digital rehabilitation in prisons. This work examines how digital tools, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and other emerging technologies can be used to strengthen prison rehabilitation programming, support behavioural change, enhance access to services and better prepare individuals for reintegration into society.

As criminal justice systems operate in an increasingly digital world, UNICRI emphasized the importance of ensuring that innovation in prisons does not deepen digital inequality. Technology can offer new opportunities for rehabilitation, education, skills development and individualized support, but it must be introduced carefully, with appropriate safeguards, staff training, evaluation mechanisms and ethical standards. UNICRI underlined that innovation often moves faster than policy and regulation, making it essential to develop clear principles for the responsible use of technology in correctional settings.

The meeting built on previous PNI discussions held in Tokyo in 2022 on reducing reoffending and promoting inclusive societies. Following the Kyoto Congress, Japan led the development of the Kyoto Model Strategies, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025. As implementation moves forward, the meeting provided an important opportunity for PNI institutes to exchange experiences, review promising practices and identify areas for further cooperation.

Discussions focused on how rehabilitative prison environments, community-based measures, family and community engagement, and effective reintegration support can contribute to desistance from crime. Participants also explored how the expertise and comparative strengths of PNI institutes can be better leveraged to promote and disseminate the Kyoto Model Strategies and support coordinated technical assistance.

UNICRI also took part in the public symposium, "Sharing Global Perspective on Reducing Reoffending: Kyoto Model Strategies," which was held in a hybrid format on 28 June 2026 at the Kyoto International Conference Center. The symposium brought together participants in person and online to discuss Japan's current efforts to reduce reoffending, the background and content of the Kyoto Model Strategies as international standards, and initiatives being taken by the international community to support their implementation.

The outcomes of the meeting are expected to support the development of an updated collection of promising practices and technical assistance initiatives to advance the implementation of the Kyoto Model Strategies. UNICRI welcomes the opportunity to continue working with UNAFEI and the wider PNI family to support Member States in strengthening rehabilitation, reintegration and the prevention of reoffending.