International Women’s Day 2026: A human rights perspective on women’s imprisonment in the UK
"A system by men, for men: A human rights perspective on women's imprisonment in the UK", a postgraduate dissertation by Eline De Sagher, examines the extent to which current prison inspection frameworks address the gender-specific needs of women in detention and how they align with international human rights standards.
Eline De Sagher recently completed the LLM in Human Rights at the University of Edinburgh, where she undertook a work-based placement with the UK National Preventive Mechanism as an alternative to the traditional dissertation. During this placement, Eline researched women’s imprisonment in the UK. Eline is currently a trainee at the Court of Justice of the European Union.
For International Women’s Day, the NPM is publishing Eline’s report, which examines how far prisons and prison inspection frameworks in England and Wales and Scotland respond to the needs of women in prison. Eline recommends gender sensitive monitoring standards to consider OPCAT obligations according to the Bangkok Rules (see Table 1).
“A system by men, for men: A human rights perspective on women’s imprisonment in the UK”
Inspired by HMIP’s 2024 thematic report Time to Care, Eline’s research focusses on HMIP and HMIPS, and examines the inspections of women’s prisons and community custody centres in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
This report is authored by Eline De Sagher and was assessed by the University of Edinburgh Law School. It takes a wider view than the NPM’s mandate under OPCAT, which covers what happens in detention settings, and focusses also on factors leading to women’s detention, which are outside the remit of NPM bodies.
While HMIPS has no legislative locus to assess decisions made by an independent judiciary, inspectors strongly promote the use of alternatives to custody in reports and in evidence to Scottish Parliament. For example, the HMIPS 2023-24 Annual Report recommended exploring “radical justice options that might lead to fewer people being sent to prison, spending less time in prison, less time having to be spent in prison, more effective use of any time spent there and robust release planning and support.”
HMIPS launched a review to update their inspection standards when the current Chief Inspector took up post in February 2025.
Find Eline’s full report here: “A system by men, for men: A human rights perspective on women’s imprisonment in the UK”
| Theme | Expectation | Indicators |
| Staff selection, training and awareness (Bangkok Rules 3, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35) | Staff are carefully selected, trained and supported to deliver gender-sensitive, trauma-informed and human rights-based care, fostering safety and respect. | – Staff recruitment and policies actively support diversity and inclusion, reflecting the prison population. – Regular, mandatory training on trauma, mental health, gender specific needs and cultural competence. – Staff demonstrate awareness of the structural drivers of women’s imprisonment, including poverty, violence and caregiving roles. – Reflective supervision and wellbeing support are available to staff to prevent vicarious trauma and burnout. |
| Reception, admission, screening and placement (Bangkok Rules 2, 3, 4, 6, 40, 41, 57, 61, 63, 64) | Admission processes are trauma-informed and gender-responsive, ensuring safety and least restrictive placement based on thorough risk and needs assessments. Non-custodial alternatives are actively considered and documented. | – Systematic screening of trauma, mental health needs, caregiving responsibilities and vulnerability to harm. – Placement decisions prioritise safety, autonomy and least restrictive options. – Non-custodial measures were meaningfully explored and, where appropriate, applied. |
| Visitation, allocation and family contact (Bangkok Rules 3, 4, 23, 26, 43, 58) | Prisons facilitate the maintenance of family and community relationships through accessible, flexible and dignified visitation arrangements, ensuring equal access regardless of socio-economic background. Additionally, women who do no receive visits should be offered appropriate support. | – Information on family, children and support networks is collected on admission. – Allocation and transfers take account of proximity to family and the woman’s preferences. – Frequent, meaningful visits are available in child-friendly spaces, with digital options where in-person contact is not feasible. – Child-focussed activities and facilities are equal to those provided in male institutions. – Support systems are in place for women who do not receive visits, including opportunities for social interaction and emotional support to prevent isolation. |
| Healthcare, hygiene and living conditions (Bangkok Rules 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 48) | Women have access to dignified, clean and gender-appropriate living conditions, hygiene facilities and healthcare services equivalent to community standards, including sexual and reproductive health and pregnancy support. | – 24/7 access to private toilets, showers, mirrors, laundry facilities and personal hygiene items. – Access to personal services, such as haircuts. – Provision of clean, well-fitting and appropriate clothing. – Timely, confidential access to gynaecological, mental and general healthcare. – Continuity of care is ensured during transfer and upon release. |
| Mental health and self-harm (Bangkok Rules 6, 12, 13, 16, 41, 42) | Mental health care is gender-sensitive, trauma-informed and individualised. Self-harm prevention is prioritised through supportive environments and peer-led local systems. Women in crisis are treated with dignity and never put in solitary confinement. | – Staff receive ongoing training in trauma response, mental health, de-escalation and suicide prevention. Peer support programmes (e.g. Listeners) are established, supported and integrated into care. – Mental health and risk assessments guide personalised case management and access to gender-specific offender programmes. – Anti-ligature clothing is not routinely used. If truly necessary, then the options include two-piece garments. – Women experiencing mental health crises are not restrained or isolated. |
| Environment and prison regime (Bangkok Rules 1, 5, 42) | The prison environment and daily regime promote dignity, autonomy and create a calm atmosphere. Women are supported to participate meaningfully in prison life and are offered opportunities for personal development tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. | – Physical environment supports privacy, calm and autonomy, avoiding overly institutional design. – Access to natural light, outdoor ares, quiet zones and elements of nature is provided. – The design and regime accommodate pregnancy, age, disability, cultural and religious needs. – Daily routines include access to purposeful activities such education, work, recreation and time outdoors. – Women participate in decisions about prison life through structured feedback mechanisms and peer-led initiatives. – Lived experiences are formally recognised in the design of services and support. – Women’s identities and relationships are respected without reducing them solely to motherhood or caregiving. |