Konverentsi kutse

Multilateral Meeting

Women in Prisons: Enhancing Gender-Sensitive Prison Policies

and Practices in Council of Europe Member States

Strasbourg, 12-13 November 2025

Concept Note

Overview:

Although women and girls constitute a minority of the global prison population, they face distinct challenges that require tailored policies and practices. With over 740,000 incarcerated women worldwide — a figure that has risen by nearly 60% since 2000 — there is an urgent need for gender- sensitive prison management, specialised programmes, and community-centred alternatives to custody. In contrast to this global trend, Europe has seen a 13% decrease in its female prison population, with women now accounting for 5.9% of all prisoners.1 However, significant challenges persist in many European countries, and this overall decline conceals ongoing concerns.

According to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) standards2 this can render it very costly for States to make separate provision for women in custody, with the result that they are often held at a small number of locations (on occasion, far from their homes and those of any dependent children), in premises which were originally designed for (and may be shared with) male detainees. In these circumstances, particular care is required to ensure that women deprived of their liberty are held in a safe and decent custodial environment.

1 Krabbe, M., & van Kempen, P. H. (2017). Women in prison: A transnational perspective. In P. H. P. H. M. C. van Kempen & M. J. M. Krabbe (Eds.), Women in prison: The Bangkok Rules and beyond / Femmes en prison. Les règles de Bangkok et au-delà (pp. 3–34). Intersentia. 2 European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), Women deprived of their liberty: Extract from the 10th General Report of the CPT (CPT/Inf(2000)13-part), 2000, https://rm.coe.int/16806cd381.

Research shows 3 4 that women differ from men not only in the reasons they offend but also in their experiences while in prison, requiring distinct support for their health5, wellbeing, and safety. Female offenders often have unique gender-specific needs related to histories of abuse, mental health issues, substance dependency, caregiving responsibilities, and risks of post- release victimisation. Recognising and addressing these needs is essential to providing appropriate support.

This multilateral meeting will build on the standards developed by the CPT6 that range from appropriate accommodation, access to activities, hygiene, health, pre and post-natal care, gender sensitive management and contacts to outside world as a continuation of the minimum framework set at the global level in the Bangkok Rules. It will explore best practices, identify gaps, and discuss further actions required to meet the specific needs of women in prison.

The meeting will focus on key issues aimed at improving both the treatment and rehabilitation of women offenders. Central themes include the complex socio-economic and psychological pathways that lead women into the criminal justice system, particularly the profound impact of domestic and sexual abuse. Many women are drawn into offending through coercive or abusive relationships, and inadequate responses by the criminal justice system often exacerbate their victimisation, perpetuating cycles of abuse and offending.

Gender-sensitive approaches to prison practice will be highlighted, including specialised staff training, safeguarding women’s health, and maintaining family connections. The conference will also emphasise the importance of rehabilitation programmes tailored to women’s lived experiences and examine non-custodial alternatives that facilitate reintegration and reduce reoffending.

Key objectives of the multilateral meeting include:

• Commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Bangkok Rules by raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by women in prison

• Promoting a deeper understanding of the implementation of standards developed by the Council of Europe and the CPT

• Facilitating the exchange of good practices on gender-sensitive prison management and fostering open dialogue on rehabilitation tools and interventions that address the root causes of women’s offending

• Strengthening collaboration among stakeholders dedicated to improving the treatment and long-term outcomes for women in prison

• Supporting and promoting women in leadership roles within prison administrations, recognising their crucial role in advancing sustainable, gender-responsive action (side workshop to take place after the official meeting).

3 Krabbe, M., & van Kempen, P. H. (2017). Women in prison: A transnational perspective. In P. H. P. H. M. C. van Kempen & M. J. M. Krabbe (Eds.), Women in prison: The Bangkok Rules and beyond / Femmes en prison. Les règles de Bangkok et au-delà (pp. 3–34). Intersentia. 4 Leote de Carvalho, M. J., Duarte, V., & Gomes, S. (2021). Female Crime and Delinquency: A Kaleidoscope of Changes at the Intersection of Gender and Age. Women & Criminal Justice, 33(4), 280–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2021.1985044 5 van den Bergh, B. J., Gatherer, A., Fraser, A., & Moller, L. (2011). Imprisonment and women's health: concerns about gender sensitivity, human rights and public health. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 89(9), 689–694. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.10.082842 6 European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). (2018, January). Women in prison (Factsheet, CPT/Inf(2018)5). Council of Europe.

Multilateral Meeting

Women in Prisons: Enhancing Gender-Sensitive Prison Policies

and Practices in Council of Europe Member States

Strasbourg, 12-13 November 2025

Concept Note

Overview:

Although women and girls constitute a minority of the global prison population, they face distinct challenges that require tailored policies and practices. With over 740,000 incarcerated women worldwide — a figure that has risen by nearly 60% since 2000 — there is an urgent need for gender- sensitive prison management, specialised programmes, and community-centred alternatives to custody. In contrast to this global trend, Europe has seen a 13% decrease in its female prison population, with women now accounting for 5.9% of all prisoners.1 However, significant challenges persist in many European countries, and this overall decline conceals ongoing concerns.

According to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) standards2 this can render it very costly for States to make separate provision for women in custody, with the result that they are often held at a small number of locations (on occasion, far from their homes and those of any dependent children), in premises which were originally designed for (and may be shared with) male detainees. In these circumstances, particular care is required to ensure that women deprived of their liberty are held in a safe and decent custodial environment.

1 Krabbe, M., & van Kempen, P. H. (2017). Women in prison: A transnational perspective. In P. H. P. H. M. C. van Kempen & M. J. M. Krabbe (Eds.), Women in prison: The Bangkok Rules and beyond / Femmes en prison. Les règles de Bangkok et au-delà (pp. 3–34). Intersentia. 2 European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), Women deprived of their liberty: Extract from the 10th General Report of the CPT (CPT/Inf(2000)13-part), 2000, https://rm.coe.int/16806cd381.

Research shows 3 4 that women differ from men not only in the reasons they offend but also in their experiences while in prison, requiring distinct support for their health5, wellbeing, and safety. Female offenders often have unique gender-specific needs related to histories of abuse, mental health issues, substance dependency, caregiving responsibilities, and risks of post- release victimisation. Recognising and addressing these needs is essential to providing appropriate support.

This multilateral meeting will build on the standards developed by the CPT6 that range from appropriate accommodation, access to activities, hygiene, health, pre and post-natal care, gender sensitive management and contacts to outside world as a continuation of the minimum framework set at the global level in the Bangkok Rules. It will explore best practices, identify gaps, and discuss further actions required to meet the specific needs of women in prison.

The meeting will focus on key issues aimed at improving both the treatment and rehabilitation of women offenders. Central themes include the complex socio-economic and psychological pathways that lead women into the criminal justice system, particularly the profound impact of domestic and sexual abuse. Many women are drawn into offending through coercive or abusive relationships, and inadequate responses by the criminal justice system often exacerbate their victimisation, perpetuating cycles of abuse and offending.

Gender-sensitive approaches to prison practice will be highlighted, including specialised staff training, safeguarding women’s health, and maintaining family connections. The conference will also emphasise the importance of rehabilitation programmes tailored to women’s lived experiences and examine non-custodial alternatives that facilitate reintegration and reduce reoffending.

Key objectives of the multilateral meeting include:

• Commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Bangkok Rules by raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by women in prison

• Promoting a deeper understanding of the implementation of standards developed by the Council of Europe and the CPT

• Facilitating the exchange of good practices on gender-sensitive prison management and fostering open dialogue on rehabilitation tools and interventions that address the root causes of women’s offending

• Strengthening collaboration among stakeholders dedicated to improving the treatment and long-term outcomes for women in prison

• Supporting and promoting women in leadership roles within prison administrations, recognising their crucial role in advancing sustainable, gender-responsive action (side workshop to take place after the official meeting).

3 Krabbe, M., & van Kempen, P. H. (2017). Women in prison: A transnational perspective. In P. H. P. H. M. C. van Kempen & M. J. M. Krabbe (Eds.), Women in prison: The Bangkok Rules and beyond / Femmes en prison. Les règles de Bangkok et au-delà (pp. 3–34). Intersentia. 4 Leote de Carvalho, M. J., Duarte, V., & Gomes, S. (2021). Female Crime and Delinquency: A Kaleidoscope of Changes at the Intersection of Gender and Age. Women & Criminal Justice, 33(4), 280–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2021.1985044 5 van den Bergh, B. J., Gatherer, A., Fraser, A., & Moller, L. (2011). Imprisonment and women's health: concerns about gender sensitivity, human rights and public health. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 89(9), 689–694. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.10.082842 6 European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). (2018, January). Women in prison (Factsheet, CPT/Inf(2018)5). Council of Europe.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex www.coe.int Tel ► +33 (0)3 90 21 53 99

Site ► [email protected] Site ► www.coe.int/cpdl

DIRECTORATE GENERAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW (DGI)

Ms Aino Leppik von Wirén Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Estonia to the Council of Europe Email: [email protected]

Ref ► DGI/TRH/MP/ma Strasbourg, 29 July 2025

Dear Ambassador,

The Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, and its

Department on Deprivation of Liberty are organising a Multilateral meeting on “Women in

prisons: Enhancing gender-sensitive prison policies and practices in Council of

Europe Member States”, to be held in Strasbourg, France, on 12-13 November 2025.

I would like to kindly ask you to nominate one participant, preferably from among senior prison

officers or other professionals dealing with the topics relevant for the subject of the event, to

attend the meeting. I would highly appreciate it if the name and the contact details of the

nominated participant could be communicated to us as soon as possible, and not later than

Friday 12 September 2025, at the following email address: [email protected]

The aim of the meeting is to build on the standards developed by the European Committee

for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)

including on gender sensitive policies and practices in penitentiary systems as a continuation

of the minimum framework set at the global level in the Bangkok Rules ; sharing best

practices in different Council of Europe Member states, identifying gaps, and discussing

further actions required to meet the specific needs of women in prison. It will focus on key

issues aimed at improving both the treatment and rehabilitation of women offenders.

To provide for more ample opportunities to share experiences, insights and good practices,

the participants are encouraged to take active part in discussions or to make a brief

presentation of the current state of play regarding the current gender-sensitive policies and

practices in the penitentiary systems of their countries and highlight the challenges they

encounter.

DIRECTORATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY, MONITORING AND COOPERATION DEPARTMENT

Co-operation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Division

2 / 2

The working languages of the Conference will be English and French with simultaneous

interpretation provided.

This meeting is being organised within the programme of multilateral co-operation activities

of the Council of Europe in the penitentiary field.

The travel and subsistence expenses for one nominated participant will be borne by the

Council of Europe. If your authorities wish to nominate more than one participant, given the

prison administration administrative set-up, we will be happy to welcome a second participant;

however, the Council of Europe is not in the position to cover the travel and subsistence

expenses of this second participant.

Please note that the meeting will be held in hybrid format.

All practical details concerning the meeting will be transmitted to the nominated participant(s)

ahead of the event.

The person responsible for the meeting is Ms Marjana Papa, Programme manager in the Co-

operation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Division, Directorate General of Human Rights

and Rule of Law. Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to

contact her or the assistant by tel. +33 3 90 21 40 39 or by e-mail: [email protected] or

[email protected]

Yours sincerely,

Tanja Rakušić-Hadžić Head of Division

Encl.: Concept note

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex www.coe.int Tel ► +33 (0)3 90 21 53 99

Site ► [email protected] Site ► www.coe.int/cpdl

DIRECTORATE GENERAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW (DGI)

Ms Aino Leppik von Wirén Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Estonia to the Council of Europe Email: [email protected]

Ref ► DGI/TRH/MP/ma Strasbourg, 29 July 2025

Dear Ambassador,

The Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, and its

Department on Deprivation of Liberty are organising a Multilateral meeting on “Women in

prisons: Enhancing gender-sensitive prison policies and practices in Council of

Europe Member States”, to be held in Strasbourg, France, on 12-13 November 2025.

I would like to kindly ask you to nominate one participant, preferably from among senior prison

officers or other professionals dealing with the topics relevant for the subject of the event, to

attend the meeting. I would highly appreciate it if the name and the contact details of the

nominated participant could be communicated to us as soon as possible, and not later than

Friday 12 September 2025, at the following email address: [email protected]

The aim of the meeting is to build on the standards developed by the European Committee

for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)

including on gender sensitive policies and practices in penitentiary systems as a continuation

of the minimum framework set at the global level in the Bangkok Rules ; sharing best

practices in different Council of Europe Member states, identifying gaps, and discussing

further actions required to meet the specific needs of women in prison. It will focus on key

issues aimed at improving both the treatment and rehabilitation of women offenders.

To provide for more ample opportunities to share experiences, insights and good practices,

the participants are encouraged to take active part in discussions or to make a brief

presentation of the current state of play regarding the current gender-sensitive policies and

practices in the penitentiary systems of their countries and highlight the challenges they

encounter.

DIRECTORATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY, MONITORING AND COOPERATION DEPARTMENT

Co-operation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Division

2 / 2

The working languages of the Conference will be English and French with simultaneous

interpretation provided.

This meeting is being organised within the programme of multilateral co-operation activities

of the Council of Europe in the penitentiary field.

The travel and subsistence expenses for one nominated participant will be borne by the

Council of Europe. If your authorities wish to nominate more than one participant, given the

prison administration administrative set-up, we will be happy to welcome a second participant;

however, the Council of Europe is not in the position to cover the travel and subsistence

expenses of this second participant.

Please note that the meeting will be held in hybrid format.

All practical details concerning the meeting will be transmitted to the nominated participant(s)

ahead of the event.

The person responsible for the meeting is Ms Marjana Papa, Programme manager in the Co-

operation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Division, Directorate General of Human Rights

and Rule of Law. Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to

contact her or the assistant by tel. +33 3 90 21 40 39 or by e-mail: [email protected] or

[email protected]

Yours sincerely,

Tanja Rakušić-Hadžić Head of Division

Encl.: Concept note