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Human Rights Situation in Police Lock-up Cells
In addition to the Standards, the Bangkok Rules provide for the following: (a) the process
in admitting women and children in detention considering their vulnerability; (b) the keeping of
registers which shall include children left behind; (c) the allocation to prisons near to women’s
homes; (d) provision for women’s specific hygiene; (e) health care needs including comprehensive
screening to determine health care needs; (f) provisions on safety and security including during
searches and the imposition of discipline and punishment; (g) contact to the outside world
especially to her children; (h) institutional personnel training; and (i) provisions for juvenile
prisoners.
1. Data and analysis on women
To cover the situation of women under detention in police lock up cells, the research tool
posed the following queries: the availability of pre-natal services and whether or not female PDL
are attended to by female police or jailer. Interviews with female PDL were likewise conducted
to gather insights on their conditions under detention and the issues that they face, including
torture and ill-treatment. 219
1.a Absence of Pre-natal Services
While the Standards unequivocally require the provision of pre and post natal services,
the data showed that there is generally no provision for pre-natal care and services in the
different Police Stations in NCR. A run down of all the police districts in the NCR revealed that the
practice of most police stations with respect to pre and post natal services is the same with the
manner it addresses the need for medical services --- the cases are referred to the nearest clinic
or government hospital. This falls short with what the Standards and the Bangkok Rules require.
Thus, in the few instances wherein the research team was able to chance upon a pregnant
detainee, there have been complaints as well on the lack of pre-natal services and access to
medical attention. 220 In NPD, particularly at Caloocan PS, a pregnant female detainee
complained on the absence of pre-natal services. Having heard this, the CHR team brought the
plight of the pregnant detainee to the CCPS Chief so that pre-natal check-ups may be conducted.
In DAID, there is also another pregnant detainee, likewise complaining on the absence of prenatal services.
Absence of pre and post natal services is likewise observed in QCPD-DAID, in the EPDMandaluyong PS and San Juan PS, as well as in SPD-Taguig City PS, and Muntinlupa City PS.
As to the other requirements of the Standards like encouraging births in hospitals instead
of the institutions and on the provision of a nursery with qualified staff, the CHR team was unable
to gather data on the same. As with other instances requiring medical attention, it can be
presumed that the process of referral to government clinics and hospitals remains to be the
practice.
219
220
Three female detainees complained that they have been ill-treated by their arresting officers in Marikina PCP 1.
Marikina PCP 1, woman detainee complained of lack of medical attention