Shoe factory opens in Paraguayan prison

Twenty-five people serving sentences in a Paraguayan prison have been given permission by the country’s Ministry of Justice to run a small footwear and leathergoods factory. The unit, inside Tacumbú prison in Asunción, has machinery and materials provided by the government. The facility was formally opened In August by Justice minister, Sheila Abed, who remarked that it was a welcome part of a wider programme of prisoner rehabilitation. She added that offering prisoners the chance to work would help them become part of society again and would also serve to ‘humanise’ prisons.

Around the world there are many products made by prisoners for sale to the general public. These include, as well as shoes, furniture, Braille books, lingerie, military clothing, baseball caps, canoes and blue jeans. Prisons often have shops, selling such gifts as artwork, cards and music boxes.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 6 of the October 2015 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

Other articles from this issue »

---