The rules about the rights of women prisoners have been regulated and adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Meeting in 2010, the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Women Offenders – also known as the Bangkok Rules. “Several provisions in the Bangkok Rules address issues that apply to male and women prisoners, including matters related to several medical services, frisking procedures and others. Women prisoners have rights that must be provided and protected even though they live behind bars. Women naturally have menstrual cycles, pregnancy, giving birth and breastfeeding, which male prisoners do not experience. Meanwhile, elderly inmates need special mattresses, must not do certain physical activities, and must take specific medicines and vitamins to maintain their health. Therefore, it is only natural for women convicts to have special rights, such as the need for mental health services. I believe it is necessary to provide mental health facilities that are individual, gender and trauma-sensitive and comprehensive. Because generally, women prisoners suffer from mental disorders when they first enter the prison system. They need someone to talk to who understands their condition,” said Nukila.
Women prisoners also need to be provided personal hygiene, especially those related to menstruation and pregnancy. Therefore, women prisoners wish that their privacy can be respected. The standards in international correctional facilities also specify sanitary necessities, including pads and tampons, must be easily accessible and distributed for free to inmates. “Number 5 of the Bangkok Rules states that ‘The accommodation of women prisoners shall have facilities and materials required to meet women’s specific hygiene needs, including sanitary towels, provided free of charge and a regular supply of water to be made available for the personal care of children and women, in particular, women involved in cooking and those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating’,” said Nukila.
Nukila also highlighted Rule number 7, which regulates sexual abuse. “If sexual abuse or other violence occurred in previous custody or before that. The women prisoners must be informed of their rights to complain, and the prison staff must help them gain access to legal assistance, regardless of whether the women choose to take legal action or not,” Nukila explained.
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When advocating for women prisoners, Nukila found that many did not understand what violence against women meant and that there was no mechanism or safe space for women in prisons to report sexual abuse.
Therefore, the relevant ministries, especially the Directorate of Corrections, should make efforts to implement the rights of prisoners in their policies and practices, maintain the dignity of women convicts and provide correctional facility conditions that meet international standards. “The Government has a new Law on Corrections which emphasizes the rights of prisoners. However, many issues regarding the rights of women prisoners remain unresolved, one of which is fostering the right to awareness of the law, the right to health, the right to education and training that meet the needs of the employment market, proper budget allocation for food per day, and budget for health including for women prisoners who live with HIV / AIDS or other diseases,” she explained. (des)
