Experts are sounding alarms over the escalating crisis of women’s incarceration, with the global female prison population nearing one million. At this rate, in the near future, there will be more women than men behind bars. This tragic and dangerous trend begs the most serious questions regarding the treatment and conditions these women experience.
Women in prisons around the world face horrific conditions, comprising acts of violence and slavery through forced labor. Most of these women are in prison for non-violent offenses, an overwhelming number of which are currently locked up for low-level infractions. Reports reveal that women prisoners often work under duress, contributing to industries such as garment manufacturing in countries like Cambodia.
The crisis is even worse for women who are sexually abused and assaulted at a heightened rate while in custody. Research shows that almost a million women around the world face these dangers. This shocking figure highlights a yawning lack of the support and protection systems put in place for them.
The Bangkok Rules, adopted 15 years ago by UN member states, were designed to give specific guidance on improving treatment of women prisoners. These crucial guidelines appeared to have been completely dismissed.
“It is not acceptable [that these rules are being flouted], and we’re probably in the hardest spot we have been for the last 15 years in terms of ensuring accountability,” – Olivia Rope
Since 2000, the number of women in prison has increased by 57%. This increase is much greater than the 22% rise in the number of men incarcerated. Today, over 733,000 women and girls are incarcerated in prisons globally. The United States has the world’s greatest number, with over 174,607 behind bars. China is second, with about 145,000 women incarcerated, in addition to an uncounted number in pre-trial detention. In Europe, nearly 94,472 women are detained.
On average, women make up just 2-9% of national prison populations. Despite these figures, experts like Dr. Wechler are rightly concerned that women’s needs are still not being met in most correctional systems.
“If you look at the rate of growth compared to men in prison, it is really alarming. Women are often an afterthought, and they face very harsh, difficult conditions where their needs are unmet in most cases,” – Olivia Rope
Many female inmates serve as primary caregivers for children, with an estimated 1.45 million children worldwide having a mother in prison. According to Prison Reform Trust, a shocking 72% of women in prisons in England were locked up for non-violent crimes in 2020.
Women often end up doing repair and sanitation work inside prison facilities with little or no compensation. In many areas, predation sinks much lower. Evidence from India has indicated that women prisoners are highly at risk of sexual violence, including being “provided” to male prisoners.
“After 20 years of working with women in prison, and seeing how this plays out across the world, I don’t think that prison works. It’s really harmful and I think we need to radically rethink the way we do justice,” – Sabrina Mahtani
As advocates have long maintained, the vast majority of incarcerated women are not a threat to society so we must find ways to do it differently.
“Most of these women don’t represent a danger to society and so we should be looking at other options. We still somehow believe that prison is a place of rehabilitation where bad people go in and come out good. We’re seeing that vulnerable and marginalised people go in and come out more traumatised,” – Sabrina Mahtani
As these statistics and personal stories continue to paint an alarming picture, the urgency for reform becomes more pronounced. Women in Prison Advocates are encouraging governments and policymakers to focus on the demands of women prisoners. They call for treatment rather than punishment and a real chance at rehabilitation for these people.