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Reintegrating ex-prisoners in Rio back to normal life

Reintegrating ex-prisoners in Rio back to normal life

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UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov during his first official visit to Brazil. [Photo by Damaris Giuliana, UNIC Rio].[/caption]In Brazil, former prisoners are reintegrated into the labour market, thanks to a project called the Employability project in Rio de Janeiro.

The project has created more than 3,000 job opportunities since its inception in 2008. Yury Fedotov, the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, commended the initiative, saying that the people are not only changing their lives but also helping other people to return to a normal life.

The initiative was coordinated by Grupo Cultural AfroReggae, a movement born out of a desire to counteract the violent drug industry.

In this interview with Damaris Giuliana of the UN Information Centre in Rio, Mr. Fedotov says these efforts should be viewed as a best practice which can be usefully transplanted to other places.

Duration: 2’26”