IPCA is represented in all continents. For more information about IPCA in your part of the world, click on the relevant link opposite. If the region website is not up and running, contact one of the members of the Steering Committee in your region.
IPCA Africa is a very strong region and has a lot of work going on. It is a region which as representatives in countries, and the countries are organized and working under the banner of it national IPCA SC. Organizes conferences, webinars, chaplain training and so on together with the leader of IPCA Africa, The vice president of IPCA Worldwide rev. Jean-Didier Mboyo.
It is open to others regions of IPCA for sharing experiences and knowledge. In true spirit of IPCA, everybody is always welcome to the national conferences and programs.
It aims to gather all prison chaplains, volunteers, ministries and other organizations working in the prison field in each country.
2026 the region is planning its first regional conference though.
The Asia region is working on rebuilding itself after the pandemic. A lot of contacts got lost, as well as the structure that had been built. After the 2025 Bangkok conference many new contacts got in place again and we were able to build a structure for the future of IPCA Asia.
Now there is a SC working to be able to arrange a regional conference within the coming year or so.
The region is registered as a French Association, based in Paris, but – like in the case of IPCA worldwide – that is only for administrative purposes.
The actual work is led by a Steering Committee (SC) elected at the regional conferences held every fifth year. The goal is to organize webinars between the quinquennial conferences, for the members to be able to share experiences and programs they have started within their prison ministries.
An important part of the regional SC’s work is to be able to provide support to prison chaplains, to provide contact information to a fellow chaplain in another country in the region if needed, and so on.
You can find more about the region and contact information for the SC members at the website:
Rev Ricardo Taylor is the lead for IPCA Caribbean. I am pleased to invite you to become a member of IPCA Caribbean.
I believe your gifts and experience would greatly contribute to the effectiveness of this ministry. As a member of the team, you would participate in conferences, prayer support, outreach activities, and other opportunities to care for the spiritual well-being of those who are incarcerated.
I would be honored if you would prayerfully consider this invitation. Please let me know your decision by sending an email to: ricardo.taylor33@yahoo.com
Thank you for your dedication to Christian service. We look forward to the possibility of serving alongside you.
Regional Vision
To be a Latin American prison chaplaincy network that contributes to the holistic transformation of incarcerated individuals by strengthening hope, reconciliation, and social and workforce reintegration through spiritual and humanitarian service.
Regional Mission
To strengthen cooperation among prison chaplains, churches, ministries, and organizations throughout the region in order to promote spiritual care, training, rehabilitation, restorative justice, and social integration programs both inside and outside correctional facilities.
Our Conviction
We believe that every person possesses inherent dignity and the potential for transformation. Prison chaplaincy extends beyond religious assistance; it is a ministry of accompaniment, restoration, and hope that contributes to reducing recidivism and building safer and more reconciled communities.
Strategic Areas of Work
Regional Challenges
Latin America faces significant correctional system challenges:
In response to these challenges, prison chaplaincy represents a valuable tool for the humanization of correctional systems and the development of effective processes for personal and social transformation.
Regional Objectives 2026–2030
Our Contribution to IPCA Worldwide
The Latin America Region contributes to the global IPCA community through:
Invitation
We invite chaplains, churches, Christian organizations, academic institutions, and correctional authorities to work together in building correctional systems that are more humane, restorative, and focused on the holistic transformation of individuals.
“Uniting, Encouraging and Equipping a Worldwide Network of Prison Chaplains as They Share God’s Love and Restorative Justice.”
— IPCA Worldwide
Latin America Regional Representation – IPCA Worldwide
Regional Coordinators:
Ignacio Chamorro
Carlos Cunningham
Latin America Region 2026
Region: Latin America
Regional Representation to IPCA Worldwide
The Latin America Region of the International Prison Chaplains Association (IPCA) brings together prison chaplains, faith leaders, volunteers, and organizations committed to providing spiritual, humanitarian, and restorative care to incarcerated individuals, formerly incarcerated persons, their families, and correctional staff.
Our region is part of the global IPCA network, an organization founded in 1985 and internationally recognized for supporting, strengthening, and training prison chaplains around the world. IPCA promotes human dignity, restorative justice, and spiritual care within correctional systems.
To be a Latin American prison chaplaincy network that contributes to the holistic transformation of incarcerated individuals by strengthening hope, reconciliation, and social and workforce reintegration through spiritual and humanitarian service.
IPCA Oceania covers the largest segment of the globe with its countries in and surrounding the Pacific Ocean (on the western side, closest to Asia).
While we may be far apart, we can always meet online and support, encourage, teach, and learn from each other as IPCA’s purpose leads us to improve awareness and conditions for inmates wherever we are. If you are part of prison ministry in the Oceania region, please join us as together we share God’s love and collegiality in our work.
Oceania-IPCA representatives Jo Vandersee (Australia) and Tony (Edmond) Papari (Tahiti) both attended the IPCA Conference in Bangkok in October 2025.
A non-exhaustive list of Oceania countries and dependencies includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tokelau, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Samoa, Tuvalu, Cook Islands (NZ protectorate), and reaches north to the Marianas and some other islands to the south of Japan, and as far east as French Polynesia–Tahiti and Hawaii (USA).
The largest countries, Australia and New Zealand, have been represented at IPCA over the years, with Tahiti involved and benefiting from collegiality and fellowship around prison ministry.
Prison populations vary greatly from country to country, with the largest being Australia’s 46,998 adult prisoners as at 30 June 2025, up 6% (2,595 prisoners) from 44,403 in the previous year, out of a population of 28 million people. 10% of Australian inmates are First Nations/Indigenous peoples, a vast over-representation of their 2% share of the total population.
New Zealand has 11,000 prisoners out of a total population of 5.2 million. Again, Māori—the Indigenous people of New Zealand—make up 45% of the prison population, while representing only 17.5% of New Zealand’s total population.
Tahiti has around 410 inmates out of a population of 192,000 people, and Fiji has 2,300 inmates out of a total population of 956,000 people in the whole country.
Contact us at ipca.oceania@gmail.com.
Craig Murphy from Canada and Joe Pryor from the United States lead IPCA North America.
We invite you to join us on this journey to provide meaningful ministry to men and women in prisons around the world.
We will not only learn best practices from each other but will be bolstered by the support we find in our shared experiences.
As our numbers grow, we will be scheduling regular video conferences to stay in touch, share upcoming events, and hear from inspirational speakers who will inspire us.
Please contact Craig and me at our emails below for information on how to join IPCA and stay informed on IPCA North America activities.
