13/03/2008: A report by Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP on the situation of women in prison and the impact of detention on family and social life which was adopted in plenary by a large majority, underlines that the respect of the fundamental rights of women prisoners and the recognition of their specific needs in detention centres should constitute core objectives of the modernisation and restructuring of the penitentiary systems of EU Member States.
Although the number of detained women has increased (in England and Wales between 1992 and 2002 the masculine population increased by 50% as opposed to 173% for women, in Cyprus the number of women prisoners increased by 410%), the organisation and structure of detention centres continue to satisfy mainly male prisoners' needs. The European Parliament has consequently invited Member States to integrate the gender dimension in their detention policies as well as in the training of personnel. The Council of Europe's revised prison rules recognised the specificities of women in fields such as hygiene, health, maternity protection as well as the frequent previous exposure of women prisoners to exploitation. The European Commission is invited to include data about women prisoners in its annual report on human rights.
The debate in plenary gave rise to interventions from 15 MEPs as well as from the European Commissioner Louis Michel who, representing the views of Commissioner Špidla who is responsible for equality, social inclusion and the fight against discriminations, indicated that the Commission respects the competence of Member States in the field of social integration but is nevertheless willing to support national actions in this field. The Commission intends to adopt within 2008, a Communication which will refer to the professional integration of women prisoners, to access to education and training for all prisoners, to the cooperation between prisons and enterprises, the creation of adequate infrastructures and the recruitment of specialised personnel.
Finally, the Commissioner stated that the Treaty of Lisbon provides for new initiatives in the fields of justice, security and freedom by extending the application of the co-decision procedure and strengthening the role of the EP as legislator.
The preservation of family ties and the necessity to create adequate infrastructures for women and their children in conformity with national legislation constituted the common denominator of the interventions of MEPs. Many of them insisted on the necessity to take into account the best interest of the child in judicial decisions relating to the detention of women and to the stay of the child with his mother in jail. Particular attention was also given to women prisoners from third countries.
Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou expressed her hope that the "implementation of the proposed measures will lead to a reinforcement of the role of the EU as protector of human rights and creator of a common space of freedom, security and justice".
For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu
Although the number of detained women has increased (in England and Wales between 1992 and 2002 the masculine population increased by 50% as opposed to 173% for women, in Cyprus the number of women prisoners increased by 410%), the organisation and structure of detention centres continue to satisfy mainly male prisoners' needs. The European Parliament has consequently invited Member States to integrate the gender dimension in their detention policies as well as in the training of personnel. The Council of Europe's revised prison rules recognised the specificities of women in fields such as hygiene, health, maternity protection as well as the frequent previous exposure of women prisoners to exploitation. The European Commission is invited to include data about women prisoners in its annual report on human rights.
The debate in plenary gave rise to interventions from 15 MEPs as well as from the European Commissioner Louis Michel who, representing the views of Commissioner Špidla who is responsible for equality, social inclusion and the fight against discriminations, indicated that the Commission respects the competence of Member States in the field of social integration but is nevertheless willing to support national actions in this field. The Commission intends to adopt within 2008, a Communication which will refer to the professional integration of women prisoners, to access to education and training for all prisoners, to the cooperation between prisons and enterprises, the creation of adequate infrastructures and the recruitment of specialised personnel.
Finally, the Commissioner stated that the Treaty of Lisbon provides for new initiatives in the fields of justice, security and freedom by extending the application of the co-decision procedure and strengthening the role of the EP as legislator.
The preservation of family ties and the necessity to create adequate infrastructures for women and their children in conformity with national legislation constituted the common denominator of the interventions of MEPs. Many of them insisted on the necessity to take into account the best interest of the child in judicial decisions relating to the detention of women and to the stay of the child with his mother in jail. Particular attention was also given to women prisoners from third countries.
Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou expressed her hope that the "implementation of the proposed measures will lead to a reinforcement of the role of the EU as protector of human rights and creator of a common space of freedom, security and justice".
For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu
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