The Rising Incarceration of Women: Ensuring Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Introduction
The number of incarcerated women is increasing at an alarming rate, and their voices need to be heard. Human rights organizations, along with former prisoners, have joined forces to bring attention to this issue. In an open letter addressed to the organizers of a high-level conference in Rwanda, they call for the inclusion of the imprisonment of women as a key issue in discussions on women’s rights. This article will delve into the reasons behind the rise in the criminalization of women, the impact on the children detained with their parents, and the lack of funding and policy reforms in addressing this issue.
The Alarming Increase in Female Incarceration
The statistics paint a grim picture. Since 2000, the number of women and girls in prisons has grown by almost 60%. This is nearly three times the increase in the male prison population, which stands at about 22%. In the ten years leading up to the end of 2020, the global female prison population increased by over 100,000. These numbers are staggering and call for urgent attention and action.
Factors Contributing to Female Incarceration
Several factors contribute to the rise in female incarceration. One of the key factors is the correlation between the incarceration of women and domestic violence. Women who are victims of domestic violence often find themselves trapped in a cycle where seeking help or escaping the abusive situation leads to their criminalization. Poverty is another major factor that pushes women into the criminal justice system. Disproportionate economic opportunities and lack of support for vulnerable women contribute to their involvement in criminal activities. Discriminatory laws that disproportionately affect women also play a significant role in the rise of female incarceration.
Exclusion of Incarcerated Women from Women’s Rights Discussions
The open letter highlights the exclusion of current and former incarcerated women from discussions on women’s rights. This exclusion leads to a lack of funding and necessary policy reforms. It also perpetuates the marginalization of incarcerated women, hindering their chances of reintegration into society. The letter emphasizes the need for high-level forums on women’s rights to include all women, irrespective of their past or current situations.
The Role of Women Deliver Conference and Generation Equality Forum
The Women Deliver Conference and the Generation Equality Forum are two significant events in the fight for gender equality and women’s rights. The open letter calls on the organizers of the Women Deliver Conference to ensure that the imprisonment of women is given due attention. The signatories also urge member states, UN agencies, intergovernmental bodies, and organizers of future high-level assemblies to prioritize the issue of female incarceration. The letter emphasizes that the voices and experiences of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women must be included to drive meaningful change.
The Impact of Exclusion on Incarcerated Women
Excluding incarcerated women from discussions on women’s rights has far-reaching consequences. It limits policy reform, hampers their ability to obtain funding, and restricts their capacity to build a global movement that advocates for their rights. The letter reveals that more than 60% of organizations working with women in prisons face precarious financial situations, with over a quarter at risk of shutting down due to lack of funds. Additionally, more than 70% of these organizations receive no funding from feminist or women’s rights foundations. It is evident that the exclusion of incarcerated women has dire consequences for their well-being and the progress of gender equality.
Voices from Formerly Incarcerated Women
Formerly incarcerated women, who have firsthand experience of the criminal justice system, emphasize the necessity of including them in political decisions. They argue that judging and rejecting them based on their past only perpetuates further discrimination and marginalization. Former prisoners bring valuable insights and perspectives that can help shape policies and programs that address the root causes of female incarceration.
Building a World of Opportunities and Rights for All Women
Organizations and individuals must recognize the worth and potential of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women. Excluding them from crucial discussions on women’s rights undermines efforts to create a world where all women have opportunities and their rights are protected. It is essential to support organizations working with incarcerated women and provide the funding needed to bring about substantial policy reforms. By including the voices and experiences of these women, a more comprehensive and inclusive movement can be built to advocate for gender equality and the rights of all women.
Summary
The incarceration of women is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention and action. The exclusion of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women from discussions on women’s rights has led to a lack of funding, policy reforms, and support for these marginalized women. The increase in female incarceration is closely related to domestic violence, poverty, and discriminatory laws. The Women Deliver Conference and the Generation Equality Forum must prioritize the imprisonment of women and ensure the inclusion of their voices. The experiences and insights of formerly incarcerated women are valuable in driving policy reforms and building a global movement for gender equality and women’s rights.
Additional Piece: Empowering Incarcerated Women for a Better Future
In our pursuit of women’s rights and gender equality, it is crucial to recognize and uplift the voices of incarcerated women. These women face unique challenges and barriers that require tailored solutions and support. By empowering incarcerated women, we can contribute to their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, ultimately breaking the cycle of incarceration.
One effective way of empowering incarcerated women is through education and skill-building programs. Access to quality education gives them the tools and knowledge to overcome the limitations imposed by their past. Vocational training programs can equip them with marketable skills, increasing their chances of finding meaningful employment upon release. Such programs not only improve their employability but also boost their self-confidence and sense of agency.
Mental health and trauma-informed care should be a priority in the correctional system. Many incarcerated women have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect, which can significantly impact their overall well-being. Providing comprehensive mental health support, including therapy and counseling services, can help them address their past traumas and develop healthy coping strategies. Furthermore, creating a supportive and empathetic environment within correctional facilities can contribute to a more positive and transformative experience for incarcerated women.
Incarcerated women should have access to rehabilitation and reentry programs that address their specific needs. These programs should focus on developing life skills, promoting financial literacy, and fostering resilience. Additionally, ensuring access to healthcare services, including reproductive health and family planning, is crucial to support the overall well-being of incarcerated women.
Socioeconomic support is essential for the successful reintegration of incarcerated women into society. This includes access to safe and affordable housing, employment opportunities, and community support networks. Collaborating with community-based organizations and employers can help create pathways for these women to reintegrate effectively.
It is also crucial to address the root causes of female incarceration, such as domestic violence and poverty. This requires comprehensive efforts to strengthen legal protections for survivors of domestic violence, promote economic empowerment for women, and challenge discriminatory laws and practices.
In conclusion, empowering incarcerated women is not only a matter of justice and human rights but also a strategic investment in building a safer and more equitable society. By providing education, mental health support, rehabilitation programs, and socioeconomic opportunities, we can help incarcerated women break free from the cycle of incarceration and contribute positively to their communities. It is time to recognize the inherent worth and potential of all women, including those who have been incarcerated, and ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of women’s rights and gender equality.
Summary:
The rising incarceration of women is a pressing issue that demands attention. Current and former female prisoners, along with human rights organizations, have called for the inclusion of the imprisonment of women as a key issue in discussions on women’s rights. The number of incarcerated women and girls has grown significantly, and this is closely related to domestic violence, poverty, and discriminatory laws. The exclusion of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women from these discussions has resulted in a lack of funding and policy reforms. The Women Deliver Conference and the Generation Equality Forum must prioritize the imprisonment of women and ensure the inclusion of their voices. Formerly incarcerated women bring valuable insights and perspectives that can help shape policies and programs. Empowering incarcerated women through education, skill-building, mental health support, and rehabilitation and reentry programs is crucial. Socioeconomic support and addressing the root causes of female incarceration are essential. By empowering incarcerated women, we can contribute to their rehabilitation and reintegration into society and build a safer and more equitable world.
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The number of women incarcerated is rising much faster than that of men and their voices must be heard, say human rights groups and former prisoners.
Mon Jul 17 2023 01.01 EDT
Hundreds of imprisoned women have written, along with human rights organizations, lawyers and activists an open letter calling on the organizers of a high-level conference in Rwanda this week to include the imprisonment of women as a key issue.
Current and former female prisoners are excluded from discussions of women’s rights, they say. This has led to a lack of funding and necessary policy reforms to address the alarming rise in the criminalization of women and the number of children detained with their parents.
The number of women and girls in prison has grown by almost 60% since 2000, almost three times the increase in the male prison population of about 22%. The global female prison population increased by more than 100,000 in the 10 years to the end of 2020. Evidence shows that the incarceration of women is closely related to domestic violence, poverty and discriminatory laws.
Acclaimed Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga and Ugandan poet and human rights defender Stella Nyanzi are, along with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, among nearly 250 signatories calling on the organizers of the Women Deliver Conferencewhich begins in Kigali on Monday, to ensure that “high-level forums on women’s rights include all women.”
Growing out of the sexual and reproductive health movement, Women Deliver has become one of the world’s leading organizations advancing gender equality and the rights of women and girls.
The letter, signed by 115 organizations from around the world, also calls for action by those involved in the six “action coalitions” launched at the Generation Equality Forum in 2021, where five-year plans were released to accelerate progress.
The forum, organized by UN Women and the governments of Mexico and France, was the largest held on women’s rights in 25 years. Billions of dollars they were promised by philanthropists and governments to support gender equality. But, the letter says: “A key group of women and girls were is out of this process – criminalized, incarcerated and ex-incarcerated women.
“Women with lived experience in the criminal justice system were invisible throughout the forum,” she added.
TO interim meeting to assess progress towards the objectives of Generation Equality will be held in September.
Susan Kigula, one of the signatories to the letter who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of her husband and spent 16 years in prison before becoming a lawyer in Uganda, said it was sad that organizations and individuals still look down on women who they went to prison and not include them in political decisions.
“You don’t have to hit someone a second time by rejecting them and not wanting to associate with them. We are all human beings,” she said.
“People should understand that it is necessary to include formerly incarcerated women. These people should not be judged by their past.”
The letter, coordinated by Women beyond the wallsa platform to end the excessive incarceration and criminalization of women around the world, says requests by some of the signatories to hold an official event on the issue at Women Deliver, which is expected to be attended by thousands of people , including UN ministers and officials, were not accepted.
The signatories call on member states, UN agencies, intergovernmental bodies and organizers of future high-level assemblies, including the upcoming interim meeting and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in March, “to ensure that the imprisonment of women is included as a priority issue.”
Claudia Cardona, director of the Mujeres Libres Corporation, an organization that defends the rights of women affected by the prison system, said that society considers that women who are incarcerated or who have been in prison are not worthy of being heard. “However, we have lived experience that allows us to build a world where all women have opportunities and their rights are protected,” she said.
Cardona, who spent nearly a decade in prison, added that ignoring this group of women had direct repercussions. “Limits policy reform, [our ability to] obtain financing and [stops us] building our movement, which aims to build global solidarity and elevate the voices, experiences and ideas of women who have been deprived of their liberty,” she said.
Investigation of Women beyond the walls revealed that more than 60% of organizations working with women in prison were in precarious financial situation, with more than a quarter saying they may not be able to continue operating due to lack of funds. More than 70% said they did not receive any funding from feminist or women’s rights foundations.
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https://amp.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/jul/17/alarming-rise-in-female-inmates-must-be-addressed-womens-rights-summit-told
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