June 24 – the “Dignity for the inmates” project has come to an end: the improvement of prison conditions for women inmates at the National Women’s Penitentiary of Tegucigalpa (Honduras) was carried out by the Italian NGO Dokita with co-financing from the European Union. The project was successfully, with great satisfaction of the local institutions and the EU. The Director of the Special Commission of the Prison System Transition in Honduras, lawyer José Augusto Avila Gonzales, said “The project carried out by the Italian NGO Dokita will be considered as a pilot experience for the future reform of the systems of rehabilitation of prisoners in Honduras.” According to Laurent Sillano, head of the Directorate of Co-operation of the EU Delegation in Honduras, “the project has been an important experience for the positive impact on human rights of detainees. It was an experimental project that, although developed with limited resources, has proved to be very significant.” Honduras is among the three poorest countries in Latin America, with over 65% of the population living below the poverty line. The economic and social situation of the population is reflected in a dramatic way in the number of women prisoners, of particular concern because in many families at social risk and with limited economic resources women take care of the livelihood and education of children. The director of the NGO Dokita, Mario Grieco, said: “Today, more than ever it is necessary to speak and think in terms of global welfare and social welfare. Global welfare is necessary because we operate in a system that can no longer be local, but must take responsibility to bring basic services in countries where these are absent. Social welfare is necessary to enhance and recognize the role played by civil society who integrates the gaps of the welfare state where the latter is unable to reach. Thanks to the work of third sector organizations (associations and voluntary organizations, social cooperatives, family associations, foundations and non-profit) an extensive network capable of expressing innovative solutions in the field of social solidarity has been created. And these solutions must be taken into due consideration in the implementation of social policy reforms, as happened in Honduras with the experience of the women’s prison in Tegucigalpa.”