AUSTRIAN NPM CONTRIBUTES TO GLOBAL REPORT ON WOMEN IN PRISON

The National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) of Austria has joined NPMs from 45 other countries to contribute to the development of a Global Report on Women in Prison, launched by the Geneva-based Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) on 12 December 2024. The report highlights significant challenges and systemic discrimination faced by women in prisons around the globe, calling for urgent reforms and greater use of alternatives to detention.

Drawing on data and analysis from NPMs operating across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, the report provides the first global analysis of women in prison based on the findings of NPMs and other independent oversight bodies with a mandate to prevent torture and ill-treatment in all places where people are deprived of liberty.

The Global Report on Women in Prison: Analysis from National Preventive Mechanisms reveals that women, who represent a small but growing percentage of the global prison population, are often subjected to systemic neglect and discrimination.

Since the adoption in 2010 of the United Nations Bangkok Rules, which aim to address the needs of women in the criminal justice system, important progress has been made, but much remains to be done to implement these standards in practice.

The Global Report identifies several themes affecting women in prison. It provides good practice examples from different countries and offers comprehensive recommendations to drive systemic change for women in prison, emphasising the crucial role of NPMs in driving reforms.

The Global Report is supported by the Government of Canada and the City of Geneva. It is available on the Website of the Association for the Prevention of Torture, together with individual country reports prepared by NPMs and Local Preventive Mechanisms operating in the 46 countries, which contributed to this project.