Even during the FGDs, sharing of experiences of violence and
discrimination was rare and always made with the assurance of anonymity.
The systems of reporting within facilities, from informal (through the
mayores and assigned volunteers) to the formal ones, have not always
been accessible or effective means of seeking justice, leaving many women
deprived of liberty unprotected from violence and discrimination.
Key recommendations from the participants pertain to better reporting
mechanisms, rights-based systems of discipline, and strict implementation
of the prohibition of torture and other cruel and degrading punishment.
Denial of visitation rights or communication with loved ones should also
not be done as punishment. This form of discipline is likewise discouraged
by the Bangkok Rules. Additionally, as a signatory to the Convention
Against Torture and the Optional Protocol on the Convention Against
Torture, the state is obligated to ensure the prevention and prohibition of
any and all forms of torture and/or cruel and degrading treatment in places
of detention. This prohibition includes acts of sexual violence and abuse
during detention.
Families of Women in Detention
Women in the Philippines are traditionally and systematically assigned
unpaid care work among families. At a young age, women are usually
conditioned through education and values formation by parents to fulfill
socially assigned care and household maintenance responsibilities. In other
words, women are often expected to be primarily responsible in caring
for children, husbands, and elderly relatives, all while smoothly running
the household. Adding to this is the expectation of also contributing to
the income of their families, especially crucial in poor households. It is in
recognition of the stereotyped roles of women, and the burden imposed
on them even while in detention, that the Bangkok Rules pay particular
attention to contact with the outside world and parental authorities.
Majority of the FGD participants, coming from low-income backgrounds
without much opportunity for education, struggled to support their
families both financially and through care prior to detention. Other
participants took care of aging parents, along with other extended family
members, before entering prison. In many cases, imprisonment caused the
breakdown of their family units.
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