THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday said it has discussed rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives for women deprived of liberty before women-judges from Asia-Pacific.
The Commission represented by Commissioner Faydah Maniri Dumarpa recently took part in the 2024 Asia and the Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) and the 2024 National Convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association.
Dumarpa tackled the current conditions of Philippine prisons and how it affected the situation of women deprived of liberty during her talk titled “Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration of Women Prisoners and Offenders, and Alternatives to Imprisonment for Women Offenders.”
With the theme “Women Lead: Transforming Asia-Pacific and Changing the World,” female judges all over the Asia-Pacific region gathered to highlight their important role in shaping the judiciary and upholding the rule of law.
“While efforts are being undertaken to address congestion and human rights issues of women deprived of liberty, the facts indicate that many detainees, most especially women detainees, are currently living in conditions below international human rights standards,” Dumarpa said.
As part of CHR’s protection mandate, she cited the need to attend to the gender, age and disability specific needs of women in detention as part of government efforts in recognizing women’s vulnerabilities especially within the context of gender-based violence.
She said there must be a monitoring body to monitor the treatment and rights of women in detention, and the need to review and repeal policies which disproportionately target or criminalize the actions of women.
“I believe many of us who are working in the field of human rights, justice and the rule of law are in privileged positions to make these recommendations a reality. We have with us the power to realise a life of dignity and integrity for women deprived of liberty,” she said.
CHR has consistently advocated for the implementation of the Bangkok Rules in the country, which specifically addresses women’s specific needs and vulnerabilities in detention, through its monitoring reports.
It has also partnered with the Bureau of Corrections and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in conducting capacity-building relevant to the adoption of the Bangkok Rules.
