Experts Warn of Rising Global Crisis as Women in Prison Near One Million

Up to one million women worldwide are facing severe human rights abuses in prisons, including sexual violence and forced labor. This alarming trend has been identified as a growing global crisis, with the number of incarcerated women rising at a significantly faster rate than that of men. Currently, women account for between 2% and 9% of national prison populations, yet since 2000, the number of women imprisoned has surged by 57%, compared to a 22% increase in the male prison population.

Olivia Rope, the executive director of Penal Reform International, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We are facing a global crisis. 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.”

Escalating Incarceration Rates and Conditions

Recent investigations reveal harrowing conditions faced by incarcerated women across various countries, including El Salvador, Kenya, the United States, Argentina, and Iran. Interviews conducted by the Guardian uncovered instances of women experiencing beatings, sexual abuse, and being forced into slave labor, often while serving sentences for minor offenses.

Despite the adoption of the Bangkok Rules in 2010, which aimed to address the treatment of women prisoners, many of these guidelines remain unimplemented. Rope noted, “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.”

Factors contributing to this rise include poverty, systemic abuse, and discriminatory laws. Women are frequently incarcerated for minor crimes, such as theft of food for their children or participating in the informal economy, particularly in the context of the “war on drugs.”

According to the latest edition of the World Female Imprisonment List, more than 733,000 women and girls are currently imprisoned globally. The true figure is likely higher due to the lack of reliable data. The United States leads the world with approximately 174,607 incarcerated women, followed by China with about 145,000, alongside an unknown number of women in pre-trial detention. In England and Wales, there are approximately 3,566 women in prison, constituting just 4% of the total prison population, with 72% serving sentences for non-violent offences as of 2020.

Unique Challenges Faced by Incarcerated Women

Women face unique challenges in a penal system primarily designed for men. High rates of mental health issues and histories of abuse are prevalent among female prisoners. According to the World Health Organization, suicide rates for women in prison in Europe are nine times higher than for the general population. Unfortunately, awareness and treatment of mental health conditions remain limited.

Conditions within prisons can exacerbate trauma, especially for women with backgrounds of abuse. Strip-searches upon entry, overcrowding, and inadequate facilities can create distressing environments.

Sabrina Mahtani, a Zambian-British lawyer and member of Women Beyond Walls, advocates for a reevaluation of the penal system. She argued, “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.” Mahtani highlighted that many incarcerated women do not pose a danger to society, suggesting alternatives to imprisonment for vulnerable populations.

The impact of maternal incarceration extends beyond the individual; it affects families and children. An estimated 1.45 million children worldwide have a mother in prison. Rope remarked, “When a mother goes to prison, the family usually falls apart, and the children have to go to social services or other family. It’s a much bigger impact than a man going to prison.”

In addition, pregnant women often lack adequate prenatal care, with reports of women giving birth alone in cells or being restrained during labor. Instances of sexual violence within prisons remain pervasive, particularly in areas affected by conflict. Reports from India indicate that female prisoners are often subjected to sexual exploitation, with many children born in prison as a result.

Many incarcerated women are forced to work for little or no pay, performing maintenance and cleaning tasks. Concerns have been raised about the regulation of prison labor, especially regarding connections to the private sector. In Cambodia, reports emerged of women working illegally to produce garments for export.

Access to accurate information about female incarceration is limited due to the secretive nature of prisons. Helen Fair, a research fellow at the Institute for Criminal Policy Research, has encountered difficulties in obtaining reliable data for the World Female Imprisonment List. She noted, “The availability of prison population data generally is pretty thin, so there are big gaps.”

The plight of women in prisons worldwide calls for urgent attention and action to address the systemic issues and human rights violations they face. As the number of incarcerated women continues to rise, the global community must prioritize their needs and ensure accountability for the treatment they receive.