Tokyo Declaration of the Asia Volunteer Probation Officers Meeting
On 9th and 10th July 2014, the Asia Volunteer Probation Officers Meeting hosted by theJapan Rehabilitation Aid Association and the United Nations Asia and Far East
Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) was
held in Tokyo. The meeting was attended by delegations from Korea, the Philippines,Singapore, Thailand and Japan, as well as observers from Kenya and China. Eachdelegation included volunteer probation officers/aides (hereinafter collectively referredto as volunteer probation officers) and the officials responsible for community
corrections. The participants of the meeting shared practices and challenges of theircountries’ volunteer probation officer programmes and recognized the importance of therole of volunteer probation officers in rehabilitation of offenders in the community. In
order to further develop community-based treatment, especially volunteer probation
officer programmes in their respective countries, the participants of the meeting further
recognized the importance of the following principles.
1. Volunteer probation officers must be fair and honest and must continually strive
for the enhancement of their character, insight and knowledge. In addition, theyshould dedicate themselves to the rehabilitation of offenders in the community
so that offenders will be reintegrated in the community and they will contributeto the creation of a peaceful and orderly community in the future.
2. Crucial factors for the rehabilitation of offenders in the community are guidanceand supervision; providing support for housing, employment, welfare andeducation, and providing consultation; and understanding and cooperation ofthe community. In order to implement the above-mentioned, volunteer probationofficers should closely cooperate with the government’s efforts, and collaborate
with other organizations, such as NGOs, halfway houses, entrepreneurs,employers, schools and community residents.
3.

Volunteer probation officers should be carefully screened and recruited inaccordance with their individual aptitude and interests; and sufficient numbers
to meet the demands of each country should be ensured. The relevant
authorities supervising volunteer probation officers should provide appropriate
training, support and advice. The welfare and safety of the volunteer probationofficers should also be ensured to allow them to carry out their volunteer duties

efficiently and effectively. Measures to be considered include reducing financial
and psychological burdens on volunteer probation officers, establishing centresfor volunteer probation officers’ activities, and introducing a compensation
scheme for damages incurred when engaged in official duties. Furthermore,
public recognition of volunteer probation officers should be enhanced for theservices they render for the well-being of the community. Government efforts arestrongly encouraged to address these issues.
Therefore, we, the participants of the Asia Volunteer Probation Officers Meeting, hereby
declare that we aspire to these principles and resolve to continuously collaborate andcreate an international network in the Asian Region by implementing events such as
joint seminars, holding international meetings or conferences, conducting mutual visits,
sharing information, and so on.