28 Physical conditions Aging buildings pose a challenge to Norwegian prisons, as is well-documented in Statsbygg’s² 2015 annual report. Statsbygg stated that the maintenance backlog is vast, and the Parliamentary Ombudsman's visits to Norwegian prisons have confirmed the physical conditions described by Statsbygg in its annual report. The poor state of Norwegian prison buildings directly impacts the conditions for women in prison. For example, women have special sanitary needs, especially in connection with menstruation, menopause and pregnancy. This requires respect for their privacy and access to satisfactory sanitary facilities. The NPM visits showed that the cells in several prisons did not have toilets, and, in some of these prisons, it was not possible to be let out of the cell to go to the toilet at night. Such conditions are particularly challenging for menstruating or pregnant women, who often need more frequent access to toilets and washing facilities. In 2016, Kragerø Prison was converted into a women's prison and it was decided that the old section of Kongsvinger Prison, Section G, would be converted into a women’s section. It is positive that new prisons are being established for women. The Parliamentary Ombudsman is, nevertheless, concerned that the women’s prison in Kragerø and the planned new section for women at Kongsvinger Prison are located in old buildings that do not adequately address the needs of female inmates. Physical activity Possibilities for physical activity are an important precondition for mental as well as physical health during long periods of imprisonment. In both women’s prisons visited by the NPM, the possibility for physical activity outdoors was limited by the design and size of the exercise yard. This was particularly the case in Kragerø Prison, where the exercise yard was a NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN National Preventive Mechanism ANNUAL REPORT 2016 70-square-metre tarmacked area with little direct sunlight much of the year. Section G at Kongsvinger Prison, which was converted into a women’s prison in January 2017, also has an exercise yard that is smaller and more poorly equipped than the outdoor areas at most men’s prisons. Some of the prisons where men and women serve together have separate exercise yards for female inmates, but they are consistently smaller and more poorly equipped than the men's yards. In some prisons, this is resolved by giving the women access to the men’s exercise yards. However, this entails security challenges and depends on personnel resources. Sense of security Most women the NPM spoke to stated that they feel safe in prison. There are, however, exceptions. In sections with few prison officers on guard, more women said that they do not feel safe. Mixed-sex prisons with both female and male inmates give rise to particular challenges. Despite most mixed prisons having separate women's sections, inmates spend a lot of time together during work, school and leisure activities. A number of women have reported unwanted attention from male inmates, and there is a real risk of sexual harassment and abuse in such situations. Few prisons have special procedures and training in place to detect or deal with such abuse. The Parliamentary Ombudsman has recommended that written procedures be developed for such situations. School and work Meaningful activities, including school and work, can be crucial to counteracting the harmful effects of imprisonment and reducing the risk of future crime. However, the Parliamentary Ombudsman has found that work activities for female inmates are often inadequate or given low priority due to resource or security considerations. The fact that female inmates as a group have weak labour market attachment makes this even more problematic. 2 Statsbygg is the Norwegian government's key advisor in construction and property affairs, building commissioner, property manager and property developer. See http://www.statsbygg.no/Om-Statsbygg/About-Statsbygg/.