28/04/2009 Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Strasbourg, 28.04.2009 - According to PACE, despite the fact that the number of women in prison in Europe is growing, women are still only a minority of the prison population, with the consequence that prisons are mainly designed for men and often do not address the specific needs of women. Moreover, as there are very few prisons for women, and even fewer places for women in pre-trial detention, women are held further away from their home, which means cutting family ties.
The adopted text underlines that, when condemning a woman, “prison should be used as a last resort only if no other options are available and alternative forms of sentencing should be considered first”, particularly if she is the sole or main carer of children. PACE furthermore considered that the reform of prisons and criminal justice policies is necessary to ensure a more humane and effective application of justice for women.
With a view to improving the conditions of detention of women in prison, the Assembly called on the member states of the Council of Europe to implement without delay the provisions of the revised European Prison Rules. In addition it formulated specific recommendation for the member states as regards the detention of mothers or pregnant women in prison, the health and educational needs of women prisoners, the organisation of visits, the respect FOR human dignity of women prisoners and their social reintegration.