The project aimed to contribute to a shift from large-scale prison institutions towards small-scale, differentiated and community-integrated detention houses that better respond to the needs of women. Its main objective was to develop know-how on working with women in detention and to support the dissemination of good practices across Europe. To achieve this, the project focused on creating a Knowledge Workspace (KW): an interactive virtual learning platform enabling exchange between practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and people with lived experience. More specifically, the project aimed to: -develop and co-create a prototype of the KW -test, enrich and improve its content and usability -disseminate the platform to a wider European audience -strengthen the capacity and knowledge of involved organisations The project contributes to inclusion, gender equality and innovative learning by integrating diverse perspectives and promoting collaboration.
The WOMEN project was initiated in response to a structural gap identified through our work within the RESCALED movement. While efforts across Europe increasingly advocate for replacing large-scale prisons with detention houses, these models have largely been developed within systems historically designed by and for men. As a result, women in detention are often placed in environments that do not adequately reflect their specific needs, vulnerabilities, and life contexts. At the same time, we identified several key challenges: Existing knowledge on women in detention is fragmented and not easily accessible There is limited integration of lived experience in policy and practice development Practitioners lack practical tools for implementing gender-responsive detention houses Community resistance (e.g. NIMBY dynamics) remains a major barrier There is insufficient exchange between countries and stakeholders These needs highlighted the importance of creating a shared, accessible, and practice-oriented knowledge base. Therefore, the project aimed to develop a Knowledge Workspace that centralises existing knowledge, generates new insights, and supports collaboration between practitioners, policymakers, and women with lived experience.