Get involved Campaigns Women in prison In the many years that Prisoners Abroad has been supporting people in prison overseas and on return to the UK, we have seen firsthand that women experience imprisonment and resettlement in a different way and have different needs. With global prison systems built for men, there are many things that women have difficulty with: hygiene, pregnancy, and a higher susceptibility to physical and mental health issues. Blogs and news stories Brought to you by staff and trustees, with a specific focus on women. What strikes me most is the enormous resilience Prisoners Abroad trustee Kate Lill writes about some of the particular challenges and vulnerabilities faced by women who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Increase in British people arrested overseas for drugs-related offences In February 2025, we highlighted the rising number of British people being detained overseas, with woman and young people under 35 particularly affected. Women in prison: Unpicking the negative label: In December 2025, the Guardian published an article, ‘Bad girls’ is how society labels women in prison. But what if that label is a lie?, written by Sabrina Mahtani, a human rights lawyer and writer. We reflected on some of the key themes and how they overlap with our work supporting British people in prison around the world and their families. Stories and testimonials Written by some of the women we support, who are brave enough to share their experiences with us. 'This isn't forever' by Sarah - in prison in Japan Excerpt: "Remember, this isn’t forever. There was a time when I didn’t think I’d be able to make it through one year, but here I am now sitting with fifteen weeks until my transfer eligibility date – a day I never thought would come." 'Finding myself again' by Sophie - in prison in Turkey Excerpt: "Prisoners Abroad saved me when I didn't think it was possible, by helping me and my mam through the whole process. The only good thing to come out of this whole situation is that I have found myself again and I am slowly rebuilding my relationship with her now. I hope in the future my story can show others who find themselves locked away in a foreign country that life is so beautiful and we shouldn’t waste it for a single moment." 'Prison in Japan' by Angela Excerpt: "Now I’m stuck in prison here and I’ve really seen what it means to be British. Prisoners Abroad cover so many important things I couldn’t otherwise pay for, from medicine to meditation guides. They care for and support our families when we are in prison, and even help them to book visits. The list really is endless; I’d keep going but I doubt I would be able to finish." 'Like everyone else - my story' by Nikki - in prison in Japan Excerpt: "Being transgender in prison opens up a whole new layer of difficulty the likes of which others can barely imagine. Having your identity, your personality and even your name taken from you in prison is hard. Constantly being told that you aren't something you feel in your heart that you are, is heart-breaking and demoralising, in a way that can be hard to understand. Tragically this happens every day all over the world. I survived the experience, but there are a great many who will not. We need allies and supporters, people to stand up for us and protect us. My hope is that other inmates will reach out and stand up for other transgender people in prison, without the expectation of ‘reward’ in some way." 'I try to be the rainbow in someone else's cloud' by Jane - in prison in India Excerpt: "With the help of Prisoners Abroad my time in prison has been made much more bearable. I wrote to them and they have sent me books on yoga, meditation and tai chi – I have been teaching the other ladies – finding comfort and friendship somewhere like this is rare I imagine." Prisoners Abroad supporting women We support women in a number of ways to help protect their dignity and well-being. We can provide funds for sanitary products for women in prison and on return to the UK, as well as contribute towards medical costs to help make dealing with health in prison a little easier. For those facing a pregnancy whilst in prison, we can send extra funds to pay for food, vitamins and medical care (depending on where someone is in the world and what their circumstances are), and we can also provide extra information on how to stay healthy. Our women’s handbook, Your Journey, is filled with everything from guidance on the menstrual cycle and menopause, to staying in touch with children and wider family, to advice on positive and negative relationships, to details of other useful organisations who support women in prison and after release. For transgender women in prison, there can be acute challenges, particularly for those detained in all-male prisons which can have an enormous impact on physical and mental well-being. We encourage women to get in contact with Prisoners Abroad if they feel they are experiencing discrimination and would like us to advocate on their behalf – or if they simply need to share what they are feeling in a non-judgemental space. Support the campaign A video of Nazanin and Richard Sharing their powerful experiences of the effects of overseas imprisonment. Re-living an imprisonment can be incredibly challenging and may bring up a whole range of emotions. We are so grateful to the people who have chosen to share their stories and experiences of imprisonment and release. They help us to understand the reality of the prison system for women. We were honoured to have Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe speak alongside her husband Richard at a recent Prisoners Abroad event. Watch the video below to hear Nazanin reflect on her 6-year ordeal in Iranian prison. Manage Cookie Preferences