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Teema: FW: Euroopa Nõukogu konverents "Women in prisons", 12.-13. november 2025
Kuupäev: 2025-08-21 12:53
From: Merit Kaasik <
[email protected] <mailto:
[email protected]> >
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2025 3:40 PM
To: Kristiina Krause - JUSTDIGI <
[email protected]
<mailto:
[email protected]> >; Kerstin Vaikmaa - JUSTDIGI
<
[email protected] <mailto:
[email protected]> >
Subject: Euroopa Nõukogu konverents "Women in prisons", 12.-13. november
2025
Tere!
Edastan info 12.-13.11 Strasbourgis hübriidformaadis toimuvast
konverentsist “Women in prisons: Enhancing gender-sensitive prison
policies and practices in Council of Europe member States”.
Palun andke teada enne 12. septembrit, kas ja kes ning kuidas soovib
Eestist osaleda (kohapeal või online).
Tervitades
Merit
Merit Kaasik
Permanent Representation of
Estonia to the Council of Europe
Deputy to the
Permanent Representative
Tel +33 388 247 652
Mob +33 640 400 222
16, allée Spach, Strasbourg, 67000 France
DIRECTORATE GENERAL
HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW (DGI)
DIRECTORATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY, MONITORING AND COOPERATION DEPARTMENT
Co-operation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Division
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.
COUNCIL OF EUROPE Site ►
[email protected]
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
Tel ► +33 (0)3 90 21 53 99
Site ► www.coe.int/cpdl www.coe.int
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
2/2
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 health 5, 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.