Stigmatization is the negative categorization of a person due to a condition, attribute, trait or behavior by society as a whole or by public or private organizations; it consequently usually leadsto the social and economic discrimination of that person. Researchers mostly distinguish between social stigmatization (from the community towards a person), structural stigmatization (institutional barriers that marginalize particular groups of peoples), and self-stigma (perception or anticipation of a stigma). You can read more about the subject and the results of a study on stigmasof inmates in the United States in Moore, K., Stuewig, J., Tangney, J. (2013) jail Inmates’ Perceived and Anticipated Stigma: Implications for Post-release Functioning.
In the field of criminology, the labeling theory says that by being labeled (thus stigmatized) as delinquent leads a person to take up delinquent behavior. Public and structural stigma can result in a person feeling excluded and hence distancing from the community and involving in higher rates of criminal activity.
By achieving that people who have been imprisoned can find a job and a social life without being stigmatized or discriminated against, the likelihood of recidivism is reduced which means an increase ofthe safety in the community. A successful reintegration also converts them into contributors to the economy and to their families and they ceaseto be a burden for the prison system. Finally, promoting the idea of offering a second chance aims at creating more equitable, empathic societies and a stronger social cohesionthereby supporting the development of countries.
Since 2007 the Innovation Lab (I-Lab) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) promotes the implementation of social innovation as a tool to improve equality in Latin America and the Caribbean. We believe that solutions to the most important social challenges would arise not by accident but by design and use the social innovation approach to intentionally create bridges between the worlds of problems and the worlds of solutions.
The I-Lab has developed a methodology through which citizens themselves define and prioritize their problems and then connect with those who have the capabilities, interests and resources to propose solutions: governments, universities, companies and NGOs on regional and international level. We know that citizens have a unique understanding of their problems and therefore need to move them from the periphery to the center of the innovation process so that these can be addressed.
We operate at the intersections of multiple sectors and promote joint efforts of various actors to identify problems (often invisible), prioritize them, generate solutions, implement, evaluate and scale them. Get to know more examples of how and with whom we work
As part of our initiative Liberando Ideas, we have visited prisons for youth and women where we identifiedthe problems their stigmatization poses to them and their families as well as the existence of multiple barriers to entering the labor market.
The problem of stigmatization has also been recognized by the EUROsociAL II program in the Regional guidelines for the socio-professional integration of persons deprived of libertyand released persons: "Most people in conflict with the criminal justice system come from a context of vulnerability that aggravates even further after the conviction as a result of the stigma that such a sanctionbrings about. Although this situation is complex even for those who receive a non-custodial sentence, it is even more harmful to those who are deprived of l. Such stigma can be a particular obstacle for those seeking integration after their release "(p.13).
The call starts on June 13 and closes on July 18 at 2:00pm (Washington DC time).
See the rules here.
We will fund up to three proposals from 5,000 to 10,000 US Dollar. The jury will define the final amount of funding upon review of the proposals.
A jury consisting of internal and external people to the IDB will evaluate the proposals, such as experts in the field of innovation, technology, citizen security, communication, project management, research and more. A decision will be taken based on the criteria mentioned in rules.
We invite people with and without experience in working with people deprived of liberty and already out of prison to get involved. We think it is key that also actors that are not traditionally linked or haven’t worked withinmatestake part and contribute with knowledge and ideas from their area of expertise of how toaddress this problem.
Natural and legal persons may apply: individuals, companies, foundations, NGOs, marketing and communications agencies, media outlet producers, public institutions, universities, schools and research and social entrepreneurship from a member country of the Inter-American Development Bank. However, it is important to note that the pilot contract funding will be made with an individual representative of the proposal.
The member countries are borrowing and non-borrowing countries.
No, the solution must be implemented in one or more borrowing member countries of the Bank, meaning Latin America and the Caribbean.
You can apply as an individual or with a team.
Yes, but be aware that we are looking for proposals with convincing concepts and weseek to support a variety of proposals and institutions or individuals from different countries.
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