Prime Minister Imran Khan has constituted a committee to study and investigate the plight of women in prisons.
“The Committee has been constituted, taking into account the plight of the female prisoners, whether convicted or awaiting trial, in the overall context of gender biases, prevalent in the society at large and issues associated therewith,” the PM Office said.
This step has been taken to establish institutional arrangements to address the issue in a comprehensive manner.
The committee comprises:
- Federal Minister of Human Rights (Chairperson);
- Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights (Secretary)
- Secretary Ministry of Interior
- Home Secretaries, Governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan
- IG Prisons, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan
- Founder and executive director of Justice Project Pakistan Ms. Sarah Belal
- Lawyer Ms. Haya Zahid
The Chairperson may co-opt any person as a member of the committee.
The committee will assess:
- Whether Prison Rules, Code of Criminal Procedure- 1898 and international best practices, are being adhered to with respect to women prisoners, especially their protection, rights, health, security, and well-being.
- It will ensure the availability of gender-specific services for women prisoners addressing their physical, psychological, emotional, and sociological needs.
- It will review Prison Rules and other relevant laws with a view to suggesting gender-specific changes in order to bring improvements for women inmates.
- It will review the overall governance, legal aid, and management systems/processes in prison administration, especially with regard to women prisoners and suggest improvements.
- It will review individual cases of Human Rights violations and victimization of women inmates and suggest measures for institutional accountability.
- The situation of children, accompanying women in jails and work to help mainstream such children, especially with regard to their education and social integration, will also be assessed.
- The Committee will suggest a comprehensive and workable system of governance of prisons in Pakistan with a view to ameliorating the plight of women in prison.
- It will review post-release programs to ensure that women prisoners are able to adjust in society after they leave prison.
The committee shall submit its report in the matter for further orders of the Prime Minister within a period of four months.