From 10 to 12 March 2026, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), in partnership with the Namibian Correctional Service, organised a three-day workshop in Windhoek to pilot and validate a Virtual Reality (VR) rehabilitation tool designed to support offender rehabilitation in correctional settings.
The workshop brought together correctional officials, international experts and practitioners to explore how digital technologies can contribute to rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, while ensuring appropriate ethical safeguards and institutional oversight.
The initiative forms part of UNICRI’s broader work on innovation in criminal justice reform, building on the Institute’s research into the responsible use of digital tools in prison systems.
From research to practice: advancing digital rehabilitation in prisons
The workshop builds on the findings of UNICRI’s 2024 report Digital Rehabilitation in Prisons, which examined the opportunities and risks associated with emerging technologies – including virtual reality, e-learning platforms and interactive digital environments – in supporting rehabilitation outcomes for people in custody.
Building on this research, UNICRI has advanced to a new phase focused on pilot implementation and strategic support to correctional authorities. With the support of the Government of Japan and in collaboration with the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI), activities are currently being implemented in selected countries, including Namibia and Thailand.
During the workshop, UNICRI also presented its new report, Shaping the Future of Digital Rehabilitation in Prisons: Evidence, Practice and Global Lessons from UNICRI’s Digital Rehabilitation in Prisons Project. The publication presents key insights from a series of evidence-informed workshops conducted in 2025 with policymakers, correctional leaders and practitioners to explore how digital technologies can support rehabilitation in prison settings.
Implemented in partnership with the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) and the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS), the workshops brought together experiences from Thailand, Namibia, Singapore, Finland and Spain. The report highlights emerging lessons on digital inclusion, ethical governance of technology and institutional readiness, while outlining pathways for future pilot initiatives and continued evidence generation.
International experience, pilot testing and validation
The workshop in Namibia opened with remarks by Commissioner-General Raphael Tuhafeni Hamunyela of the Namibian Correctional Service and a keynote address by H.E. the Ambassador of Japan to Namibia, highlighting the importance of innovation and international cooperation in strengthening rehabilitation efforts.
Participants discussed key lessons from UNICRI’s research on digital rehabilitation and the ethical principles guiding the use of digital technologies in correctional settings, including safeguards, proportionality and human-centred design. Experts from Singapore, Finland and Catalonia (Spain) shared national experiences in integrating digital and immersive technologies into rehabilitation programmes.
The workshop also included pilot testing of the VR rehabilitation tool with the Namibian Correctional Service. Correctional staff received practical training and supervised testing sessions were conducted with both male and female inmates, allowing participants to assess the tool in practice and provide feedback on usability, operational requirements and safeguards.
Building on these sessions, participants discussed pathways for validating the VR tool within Namibia’s correctional system, including institutional readiness, governance arrangements and potential steps for integration and scale-up.
Experts contributing to the workshop
The workshop benefited from the participation of international experts and practitioners, including from correctional services and institutions in Singapore, Finland and Catalonia, Spain with experience in digital rehabilitation and correctional innovation:
Dr. Victoria Knight, Associate Professor in Criminology and Criminal Justice at De Montfort University (United Kingdom)
Prof. Stuart Ross, Professor Emeritus at University of Melbourne, Australia
Loh Eng Hao, Assistant Director, Correctional Research Branch, Psychological & Correctional Rehabilitation Division (Singapore)
Nicolas Barnes Mendez, Director, Centre Penitenciari Mas d’Enric, Departament de Justícia i Qualitat Democràtica (Catalonia, Spain)
Mana Yamamoto, Director of the Assessment and Support Division, Osaka Detention House, Ministry of Justice of Japan
Pia Puolakka, Independent Strategic Advisor on Justice Reform and Digital Transformation, MindTech, Finland
Through research, pilot projects and international cooperation, UNICRI continues to support countries in exploring how responsible digital innovation can strengthen rehabilitation efforts while upholding human rights, safety and accountability in criminal justice systems
