An estimated 733,000 women and girls are held in prisons around the world, and the female prison population is increasing at a faster rate than for the male prison population.
Many women are imprisoned for petty, non-violent offences, often linked to experiences of poverty, discrimination, deprivation, and violence. Evidence shows that women in prison are disproportionately affected by economic disadvantage, lack of access to social support, and systemic inequalities, highlighting that imprisonment is often an ineffective and damaging response.
Prison systems are largely designed for men. Security procedures, prison architecture, healthcare provision, family contact, work, and training rarely meet women’s specific needs. As a result, women in custody often face inadequate healthcare, limited rehabilitation opportunities, and poor preparation for release.
Women in the criminal justice system are disproportionately likely to have been victims of domestic or sexual abuse. Throughout the criminal justice process they are at risk of further abuse, violence and humiliation from police, prison officers and other people in prison. For many women and girls custody can mean ill-treatment, the threat of rape, touching, ‘virginity testing’, being stripped naked, invasive body searches, and insults or humiliations of a sexual nature. In some cases, women are forced to provide sex for favours or preferential treatment.
Non-custodial options, such as community service, have been shown to be more effective in reducing re-offending and promoting lasting rehabilitation. But these can fail to consider the specific requirements of women. Their caretaking responsibilities or potential histories of domestic violence are often overlooked. There are gender differences in drug dependency and therefore their specific treatment needs are often not considered.
The United Nations Bangkok Rules adopted in 2010 by 193 governments at the UN General Assembly addresses the gender specific needs of women in criminal justice or prison systems. We work to ensure these vital standards are put into practice to both reduce women’s imprisonment, and improve their treatment while detained.