Over half a million women and girls are held in penal institutions around the world, with about a third in the United States (183,000) and a further third in China (71,280), the Russian Federation (55,400) and Thailand (28,450).¹

Although women generally constitute between two and nine per cent of prison populations throughout the world, rates of female imprisonment are growing significantly.  Between 1977 and 2004, the number of women in US prisons, for example, has risen by 757 per cent - nearly twice the 388 per cent increase for male prisoners.² In New Zealand, the female prison population increased by 162 per cent between 1986 and 2000. In Japan, where prison populations generally are very stable, the female prison population increased by 44 per cent between 1994 and 2000.³

Women are usually imprisoned for petty and non-violent crimes, mainly for property and drug related offences, and often come from socially disadvantaged communities. In many countries, there is a disproportionate representation of indigenous, ethnic or linguistic minorities in prison, including foreign nationals.

Women, especially mothers, in prison have special physical, vocational, social and psychological needs. Yet they often face problems with maintaining contact with family and the outside world, as well as accessing education, training and work programmes, and healthcare whilst in prison. They are also vulnerable to abuse and violence including rape, inappropriate surveillance and strip searches. Women in prison have higher levels of depression, anxiety, phobias, neuroses, and self-mutilation, and suicide compared to the general population and male prisoners.⁴  

International standards

The rights guaranteed in international human rights treaties apply equally to men women. However, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women additionally obliges state parties to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, including refraining from engaging in any act or practice of discrimination and taking measures to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which discriminate against women.

There are also specific standards and provisions that recognize the special needs and circumstances of female prisoners. The Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment recognises the need for specific measures to protect the rights and special status of women, especially pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Rules No. 23 and 53 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Offenders state that female prisoners should be separated from male prisoners and supervised by female officers.⁵ It also requires the provision of special accommodation for all necessary pre-natal and post-natal care and treatment.

PRI’s work on women in prison

In Russia, PRI is working with relevant governmental and civil society organisations to raise awareness of the problems facing female prisoners, promote specialist mother and baby units within prisons, and improve living conditions for female prisoners. Its Small Grants Programme, for example, has contributed to the creation of mother and baby units in several prisons. It has also supported the development of procedures to regulate accommodation for female prisoners, along with the conduct of health, social care and legal professionals working with female prisoners who have children either inside or outside prison. PRI has also helped create a rehabilitative programme to prepare female prisoners for release by teaching them the skills to access social services and employment, as well as develop social skills.

In India, PRI with partner organisations has raised awareness of the right to health of women and children, and supported activities such as the establishment of counselling units in prisons which provide counselling and psychological support and legal and social awareness training for women prisoners.

Penal Reform Briefing No.3: Women in Prison: Incarcerated in a man's world

1. International Centre for Prison Studies (2006) World Female Imprisonment List.
2. Institute on Women and Criminal Justice (2006). The Punitiveness Report - Hard Hit: The Growth in Imprisonment of Women, 1977-2004.
3. Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators (APCCA): Record of the Twentieth Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators 2000.
4. Quaker United National Office (2005) Women in Prison: a commentary on the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, dicsussion draft.
5. This does not, however, preclude male staff including doctors and teachers from carrying out their professional duties.