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Gender and Security Toolkit
As noted in an evaluation of programmes from Australia, this means that:
… assessments and interventions should not be single issue focused. In other words,
effective treatment of any one issue is likely to involve treatment of other issues. A
woman with a housing problem, for example, may not progress unless issues relating to
drug use, an abusive partner and relationships with her children are also addressed.22
Programmes should be localized and made appropriate for the women, men, boys and girls
in that particular context, acknowledging the diversity of cultures within the population
and ensuring there are appropriate means to allow all women and girls equal access. Young
people should also receive education around puberty and sexual maturation, with access
and appropriate introduction to sanitary products and sexual health advice.
Women are generally accused and convicted of economically motivated crimes at a higher
rate than men, and many have further caring responsibilities to consider when they leave
prison. For example, in China an analysis of the crime statistics found that 67 per cent of
men surveyed on pre-trial detention had been accused of an economically motivated crime,
but this figure was 87 per cent for women.23 Research from Argentina found that 85 per cent
of the women surveyed were convicted of economic crimes, and of those women, 75.6 per
cent were the primary income earners for their households.24 However, in many cases the
only vocational training or skills development available is steeped in traditional ideas of
what a woman’s role should be. The programmes neither challenge gender inequality nor
help to provide a viable way for women to develop and succeed in the world of work.
It is therefore of great importance that women receive assistance while in places of
deprivation of liberty to give them a viable means of earning money when they rejoin the
community (see Box 15).
Box 15: Usable skills development for women in prison in Hong Kong
The Industries and Vocational Training Section of the Hong Kong Correctional Services
Department creates a real-world working environment for prisoners. It helps them to
develop healthy and responsible working habits while assisting them to practise their
useful skills to earn a living. A representative from the Correctional Services Department
stated that 80 per cent of female ex-offenders are able to find a job.
Rather than offering training based on gendered expectations, vocational training
programmes are available based on the skills and interests of the individual. Examples of
training courses include electrical installation, office and commercial practice, and food
and beverage services. Courses can lead to exams under external accreditation bodies –
such as the City and Guilds and the Construction Industry Council – which do not connect
them to the correctional facility and help to avoid stigmatization.
Source: B. Thongmark (2016) “Rehabilitation service: Good practice from Hong Kong Correctional Services
Department”, Thailand Institute of Justice, TIJ Quarterly, 3, p. 14.
Even where there are programmes available for women in places of deprivation of liberty,
access to the programmes or work can be a huge problem for women who have children
with them in detention. Some places of deprivation of liberty have enabled women with
children in detention to gain access to work, education and respite by finding ways to care
for the children while the mother accesses the relevant programmes (see Box 16).
A commonly overlooked issue is that staff working within places of deprivation of liberty
have difficulties and responsibilities similar to those of the people whom they supervise,
and their living conditions and lack of access to assistance may be similar. Some places of
deprivation of liberty have taken this into consideration, and allow staff to use medical
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