Summary

The present report analyses the causes of deprivation of liberty of women from a gender perspective. It provides an understanding of the ways in which women are uniquely and disproportionately affected by deprivation of liberty, owing to structural discrimination throughout their lives. While deprivation of women’s liberty manifests differently in different contexts, there is a common underlying cause: the persistence of patriarchal systems. Patriarchy shapes gender stereotypes and forms of discrimination that normalize them.

Recommendations

The report contains a number of recommendations to support States in developing and implementing comprehensive measures that are aimed at legal, institutional, social and cultural transformation, such as:

• Modifying or eliminating all laws based on stereotyped gender roles
• Putting in place mechanisms to provide opportunities for support to all women to exercise their autonomy and agency
• Banning laws and practices policing, targeting, punishing or confining women in relation to consensual sexual or reproductive behaviour or decisions

Read all recommendations and conclusions of the report on women deprived of liberty  

Methodology

To inform its thematic report, the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice circulated a questionnaire on women deprived of liberty. Responses were received from different stakeholders, including Members States, civil society organizations and other actors, and contributions on issues related to the theme, submitted by several partners.

Questionnaire (English | Français | Español)