WOMEN IN PRISON / EP : MEPS CALL FOR FRAMEWORK DECISION ON MINIMUM STANDARDS.

With its unanimous adoption on 28 January of an own-initiative report, the European Parliament Committee on Women's Rights aims to draw attention to the situation of women in prison, a small but growing minority. The committee calls for the establishment of minimum EU standards.

Against a backdrop of penal institutions' absence of resources, 'women in prison represent a minority whose specific needs are not sufficiently taken into account in EU countries,' explains rapporteur Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP-ED, Greece).

SPECIFIC NEEDS

MEPs urge the Commission and Council to adopt a framework decision on minimum standards for protection of the rights of inmates on the basis of Article 6 of the EU Treaty (fundamental rights), taking account of women's specific needs.

The states should provide psychological support for women prisoners, particularly those who have suffered physical, psychological or sexual violence, and for minors and women prisoners with children.

Pregnant women should have access to prenatal and postnatal care, while separate mother-and-child units, employing qualified staff, should be set up everywhere to assist imprisoned mothers in their childcare responsibilities.

SOCIAL REINTEGRATION

The report recommends that alternative penalties to imprisonment should be used to a greater extent, provided that the sentence imposed is short and the risk to public safety low...