In light of an increasing number of young women needing our support, our trustee Kate Lill writes about some of the particular challenges and vulnerabilities faced by women who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Kate's day-to-day work focuses on legal support for women in the criminal justice system in the UK; you can learn more about her here.

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The human rights of everybody matter whether you are in prison or not, but it's particularly important for women in custody because they are a particularly vulnerable group. The criminal justice system, both in the UK and around the world, is normally a system that has been made by men, designed for men, and often doesn't recognise the specific needs of women who are vulnerable. This is why it is important that you have individuals and charities such as Prisoners Abroad to advocate for those women.

Women have particular vulnerabilities and complex needs that are often not addressed by the criminal justice system. In the UK, approximately 70% of women report having been the victims of domestic abuse – whether that's sexual violence, physical violence, psychological abuse from a partner or a family member – and nearly 80% report mental health issues. One in three women self-harm whilst they're in custody – about nine times higher than the rate for men.

Women are predominantly the primary carer for a child, and if they go to prison, that child is often removed from the family home. In the UK that's approximately 17,000 children, with the international figure sitting around 1.45 million. A foreign prison sentence exacerbates the feelings of isolation that stem from this because of language barriers and cultural differences. Some women are forced to give birth in prison - a profoundly traumatic and lifechanging experience.

Certain behaviours are criminalised in other countries, but not in the UK. For example, adultery is a criminal offence in several countries in the Middle East, and this predominantly affects women because they are considered to be the adulterer. It can be easy to take for granted the UK’s legal system where, despite the flaws that exist, we offer a fair trial. Women around the world therefore find themselves in prison having not received a fair trial, often without access to a lawyer who has advised them on what their rights and options are.

Women often have trauma from past experiences and from prison itself that they have not been able to work through when they are released from prison, which has a knock-on effect. Accommodation is often one of the most important things after release from custody and, whilst men experience difficulties in finding a safe place to live too, women face particular challenges because temporary accommodation is often provided in a mixed hostel or dorm format, an environment where a woman wouldn't feel safe. Additionally, a woman may have children who are returning to her care and who will need appropriate accommodation. These extra layers of difficulty must be worked through by Prisoners Abroad’s resettlement officers, often by advocating, signposting and referring to relevant services where woman can access the tailored support that they need.

Prisoners Abroad also provide emotional support to women in custody, at a time which is often the darkest moment in their lives. This emotional support is incredibly valuable because it offers a woman an opportunity to speak to a non-judgmental, compassionate individual who will take into consideration their feelings, their views, their needs, and then do what they can to help them.

What strikes me from experience is the enormous resilience that women have, but they can only really have that resilience when they have the support of others. Sometimes that's in the support of others who share their pain and anguish, but it also can be provided by those who understand it, and Prisoners Abroad certainly do that.

Kate Lill, trustee of Prisoners Abroad

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The impact of imprisonment on women

Hear stories from some of the women we have supported whose lives have been impacted by overseas imprisonment and keep up to date with our campaign to raise awareness of the increasing number of young British women in prisons around the world.

Learn more