REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA 82. In 2012/2013, 1 762 offenders were studying towards post-matric/higher education and training qualifications, 3 525 towards further education and training college programmes (including electrical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering and marketing), and 4 188 participated in skills development programmes (including basic business skills training and entrepreneurship). During 2012, R66,424 million was allocated from National Skills Funds on training 5 837 offenders, including training in scarce skills such as welding, plumbing, bricklaying, plastering, electrical, carpentry, and agricultural skills programmes. In May 2012, 416 youth offenders graduated with International Computer Driver Licence (ICDL) certificates.58 Within two months of launching the Reading for Redemption campaign in September 2012, more than a million rand worth of books were donated. Various models of Reading for Redemption programmes exist globally. In South Africa, partnerships have been established with universities including the University of Zululand, University of KwaZuluNatal, Unisa, Walter Sisulu University, and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Measures relating to female inmates 83. With regards to female inmates, the DCS forms part of the international community that continues to implement the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners. Key to the frameworks being implemented by the DCS was the White Paper on Corrections which is viewed as a blue print for ensuring humane, just and safe correctional facilities that focus on the rehabilitation of offenders. The DCS has further adopted an approach that is focused on improving the conditions of female inmates in correctional facilities. DCS is committed to taking special care of the female offender population. This means that the DCS has had to increase resources allocated to female correctional centres. A very significant achievement during the 2011/12 financial year was the establishment of Mother and Baby Units for women offenders who are serving time and have their babies with them in correctional centres.59 Measures to assist with rehabilitation and reintegration 84. 58 59 DCS is ensuring that the sentences of the courts are carried out, but that offenders are incarcerated and rehabilitated in such a manner that they can be successfully re-integrated back into the community and there is minimum recidivism. The DCS also aims to achieve the following:  Regular review of all standard operating procedures and policies to ensure that issues of women are favourably addressed in the implementation of incarceration and corrections;  Ensuring that national special commemorative days, such as Women’s Day, are made available to the Offender Population; DCS Annual Report 2012/2013 DCS Annual Report 2011/2012 29