Difference between revisions of "Women's Rights in Prison"

From Criminal Defense Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Line 4: Line 4:
  
 
Women's offending and imprisonment is closely related to women's poverty. Women are particularly vulnerable to being detained because of their inability to pay fines for petty offences and/or to pay bail. Women on remand constitute a large percentage of the women's prison population in many countries. Women offenders typically come from economically and socially disadvantaged segments of society. Typically, they are young, unemployed, have low levels of education and have dependent children.Many have histories of alcohol and substance abuse. A high proportion of women offenders have experienced violence or sexual abuse. At the same time, there tends to be greater stigma attached to women's imprisonment than men's, and women who have been in prison may be ostracized by their families and communities.
 
Women's offending and imprisonment is closely related to women's poverty. Women are particularly vulnerable to being detained because of their inability to pay fines for petty offences and/or to pay bail. Women on remand constitute a large percentage of the women's prison population in many countries. Women offenders typically come from economically and socially disadvantaged segments of society. Typically, they are young, unemployed, have low levels of education and have dependent children.Many have histories of alcohol and substance abuse. A high proportion of women offenders have experienced violence or sexual abuse. At the same time, there tends to be greater stigma attached to women's imprisonment than men's, and women who have been in prison may be ostracized by their families and communities.
 
  
 
The United Nations (UN) Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners were adopted by the First UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in 1955, and approved by the UN Economic and Social Council in 1957.They remain the key point of reference in designing and evaluating prison conditions.
 
The United Nations (UN) Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners were adopted by the First UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in 1955, and approved by the UN Economic and Social Council in 1957.They remain the key point of reference in designing and evaluating prison conditions.
Line 13: Line 12:
  
 
However, these rules and principles contain only a handful of provisions specifically directed to women and girl prisoners. There is growing concern regarding the rights and treatment of women prisoners, at national, regional and international levels. A range of international fora have emphasised the need to review prison systems and the norms and standards regarding imprisonment with women's needs in mind.
 
However, these rules and principles contain only a handful of provisions specifically directed to women and girl prisoners. There is growing concern regarding the rights and treatment of women prisoners, at national, regional and international levels. A range of international fora have emphasised the need to review prison systems and the norms and standards regarding imprisonment with women's needs in mind.
 
  
 
The Sixth UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders adopted a resolution on the Specific needs of women prisoners highlighting, amongst other things, that:
 
The Sixth UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders adopted a resolution on the Specific needs of women prisoners highlighting, amongst other things, that:
Line 34: Line 32:
 
More recently, the concern about women prisoners has broadened to include the children of women in prison. The General Assembly's 2003 resolution on Human rights in the administration of justice invited:
 
More recently, the concern about women prisoners has broadened to include the children of women in prison. The General Assembly's 2003 resolution on Human rights in the administration of justice invited:
  
blockqoute>
+
blockqoute/>
 +
 
  
  

Revision as of 15:02, 24 September 2010