Report
Who are women prisoners? Survey results from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
This research report is based on a survey of women prisoners in the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, carried out by PRI in September 2013.
11% of women prisoners in Kazakhstan took part in the survey and 43% in Kyrgyzstan.
The report includes an analysis of statistics received from criminal justice authorities in the two countries. By providing facts and figures, the report seeks to illustrate the need for gender-specific policies that respond to the needs of women in prison, and to enable an identification of the key areas to be addressed as a matter of priority.
Key findings from the surveys include:
- 15 in 20 are mothers and the vast majority of women are either single, divorced, separated or widowed.
- A third of women were convicted of fraud or fraud-related offences. In Kazakhstan 12 per cent and in Kyrgyzstan 20 per cent were convicted of murder or manslaughter of a male family member.
- Half of the women surveyed in Kazakhstan experienced depression and many others said they were lonely, anxious and experiencing fear and insomnia.
- 40 per cent of the women identified treatment for health problems as their biggest need while in prison.
The report includes recommendations with reference to the UN Bangkok Rules.
This is the second report in a series of three in our current research project inspired by Rule 67 of the UN Bangkok Rules. The first report surveyed women prisoners in Armenia and Georgia (published 2013) and the final report will focus on the Middle East and North Africa region (to be published later in 2014).
This project has been made possible by the financial support of the UK Government.
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