International Women’s Day: Renewed calls for better treatment of female prisoners
PRI would like to take the opportunity on International Women’s Day to promote better treatment of women in prison worldwide. Whilst the Bangkok Rules were adopted over a year ago there is still a long way to go to implement the Rules.
On 6 March PRI, with the Thai Permanent Representation to the UN, OMCT and Quaker UN Office, held a side event entitled: “Female Offenders – What difference can the Bangkok Rules make?” to promote the Rules. Dr Rani Shankardass, Honorary President of PRI and Secretary General of Penal Reform And Justice Association, India, highlighted the importance of the Rules to protect women in prison and to promote the use of non-custodial measures. Dr Shankardass is the author of two new publications “Of Women Inside: Prison Voices from India” and “In Conflict and Custody: Therapeutic Counselling for Women”.
Tomris Atabay highlighted the need to promote awareness of the rules and incorporate them into national legislation. PRI announced a new set of guidelines which aim to raise awareness of the Rules and provide practical and detailed guidance to all parties involved (including NGOs), to ensure that enough information is available to implement the Bangkok Rules.
Read PRI’s report of the event below: