We focussed this month on women. We highlighted the acute challenges that face women whilst in prison, and how we are working to support them. 

The Reality

Women make up only 7% of our clients (9% in 2019). So, if the numbers are so low, why do we devote so much time to talking about women’s special needs and their circumstances?

Men make up around 90% of the world’s prison population. This means that all the prison systems and the rules that govern them are built with men –and not women- in mind. The archetypical prisoner is not a woman. Women are quite clearly a minority group that has very specific needs. Unfortunately, most criminal justice systems fail to recognise and address these needs in a meaningful manner. So, when women are arrested, the system which is going to process them hasn’t got the mechanisms in place to protect them; in fact until 2010 there were no specific international standards to oblige states to ensure gender-sensitive treatment in prison. The UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners (Bangkok Rules), were only adopted eight years ago.

To continue reading, Elena's full article is just a click away. 

Health Statistics

Take a look at the fascinating infographic report identifying health statistics for women in prison. 

Women with Children in Prison

Read the article which focuses on children who are imprisoned with their mother. 

Keeping in Touch with the Children

Find out how Prisoners Abroad supports people in prison to keep in touch with their children.

Women: A Minority

It is common knowledge that, over the last few decades, the numbers of women and girls that have been given prison sentences worldwide have drastically increased. Emma Jones writes about the subject.

The Women who are Left Behind

Whilst, of course, our clients are often supported by their partners in the UK, our statistics show that it is mothers who make up the largest percentage of female family members with 383 mothers currently registered to receive our assistance – 29% of all of the women we support. Female partners make up 22%  of our family members, sisters account for 19% of this category, whilst 9% of our family members are daughters.

Read more about women who are left behind