Urgent call to curb jailing of women

A report into the criminalisation and imprisonment of women globally has shown a 60 per cent rise in the number of female prisoners since 2000.

From poverty to punishment: Examining laws and practice which criminalise women due to poverty or status worldwide, co-published by Penal Reform International and Women Behind Walls, was released yesterday.

Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson said the report “casts a penetrating light on the often-overlooked plight of women ensnared in criminal justice systems”.

“The staggering rise in the number of incarcerated women – driven by poverty, abuse, and discriminatory laws – demands urgent redress. Behind each statistic lies the story of a woman whose potential has been stymied by inequality and injustice,” Ms Robinson said.

She said the report served as a clarion call to international bodies, governments, and civil society to prioritise gender-responsive alternatives to imprisonment and invest in community-based support systems.

“It is only through such transformative actions that we can hope to dismantle the systemic injustices that perpetuate the incarceration of women,” she said.

“By adopting a people-centred and human rights-focused approach, we can build justice systems that heal rather than harm and that truly embody the principle of leaving no one behind.”

The report found that last month there were more than 733,000 women and girls imprisoned worldwide, but due to a lack of accurate information, the true scale of the issue was likely to be significantly underreported.

It also found that laws and policies criminalised women for life-sustaining activities and acts of survival; harsh drug laws were driving the increase in women’s imprisonment; and women were being criminalised for their sexuality, gender identity, reproductive or mental health status.

It recommended prioritising data collection; removing laws that violate international law and human rights standards; and focusing on the leadership of community-led organisations and experts in reform efforts.

Read the report here.