On 20 September, Minister Habijan ran with former and current prisoners at the Yellow Ribbon Run race in Gospić and finished third.
It is a race of symbolic character that aims to support people with a criminal past in the process of their reintegration into the community, encourage the development of a more inclusive society, open a discussion about stereotypes and prejudice faced by people with a criminal past, raise awareness of the importance of rehabilitation and inform the public about the importance of work within the prison and probation system and its role in improving community safety.
Minister Habijan pointed out that the race is one way to help people deprived of liberty to present themselves in the community in a different manner.
"The goal of this race, which I am sure will become a tradition, is to remove prejudice and labels. These are all people who have returned or will return to our society and to their families. Let's show them - even if only symbolically - that we really care about all our citizens and that there is no prejudice", Minister Habijan said on the ocassion.
Over 120 people participated in the race, including former and current prisoners, judicial police officers and other officers from correctional facilities, probation officers, judges, court officials, civil servants of the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Norway to Croatia, prominent athletes, members of the academic community and other local community stakeholders, to point out the importance of social support in the process of reintegration of ex-offenders.
The race was also adequately supported by the family members of inmates, with a special workshop organised for their children.
In addition to the Gospić race, around the same time, races took place in the outdoor premises of the Lepoglava Penitentiary and the Glina Penitentiary, with the participation of the inmates and officers of these correctional facilities.
The race was organized by the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, Prison and Probation Directorate, as part of the bilateral project "Strengthening the capacity and visibility of the prison and probation systems", funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway to the Republic of Croatia.
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