OSCE HDIM: Statement on link between violence and women in detention, September 2014

This statement will be delivered by PRI at the OSCE’s 2014 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, during the dedicated session to ‘Violence against women belonging to vulnerable groups’ on 26 September 2014.

PRI highlights that the majority of women in detention are convicted of non-violent crimes that are linked to poverty, and those convicted of violent crimes are often victims of violence themselves. There is a continuum of violence for women once in detention.

The statement encourages OSCE member states to review penal legislation, policies and practices on four areas where the UN Bangkok Rules address the needs arising from violence:

• considering prior victimisation at sentencing
• separating men and women detainees and supervision only by female guards
• conducting body searches in line with Rule 19 of the Bangkok Rules
• ensuring a medical screening on admission identifies any sexual abuse or violence

See PRI’s research reports on women prisoners in several OSCE member states which include findings on violence experienced.