A two-day Workshop on Strategic Development for the Use of Digital Rehabilitation in Prisons was co-organised by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI ) and the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ). The event brought together officials from the Thailand Department of Corrections, practitioners, and international experts to explore how digital tools — such as virtual reality and e-learning — can enhance rehabilitation, education, and reintegration opportunities for prisoners.
The workshop was officially opened by a senior representative of the Thailand Department of Corrections, followed by welcome remarks from TIJ and UNICRI, which outlined the objectives of the two-day event and emphasized the importance of leveraging technology ethically and responsibly in prison rehabilitation.
Participants engaged in a series of interactive sessions covering key themes such as:
Overview of digital rehabilitation
Identifying needs, risks and opportunities for Thailand
Ethics, human rights and digital justice principles
Staff training, organisational readiness and change management
Partnerships
Developing Thailand’s digital rehabilitation strategy
A dedicated briefing introduced a virtual reality pilot project, showcasing how immersive tools can support behavioural change, learning, and preparation for reintegration.
Building on UNICRI’s 2023 study conducted with the support of the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) and the Government of Japan, the workshop represented a significant step in translating research into practice. The study examined the potential benefits and risks of introducing new technologies in prisons, aiming to assist policymakers and practitioners in designing effective, ethical, and human-centred digital rehabilitation programmes.
As highlighted in the discussions, digital rehabilitation must remain human-centred, ensuring that technology serves people - not the other way around. Participants emphasized that the use of technology should complement, not replace, in-person engagement, and must always align with human rights standards, as reflected in the Nelson Mandela Rules.
The workshop concluded with the development of strategic recommendations for Thailand’s digital rehabilitation roadmap and a reflection session gathering participants’ insights through a post-survey.
UNICRI, TIJ, and UNAFEI reaffirmed their commitment to advancing innovative, inclusive, and ethical approaches to justice reform, promoting digital readiness and access to rehabilitative opportunities that strengthen peace, equality, and development.