‘Women’s right to health in detention’: United Nations Committee Observations since the adoption of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules)

Abstract Approximately 11.7 million people are detained globally, with an observed rise in the female prison population recent years. A range of human rights treaties, and non-binding minimum standards care (2016 Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment Prisoners (the Mandela Rules), 2010 Women Non-custodial Measures Offenders Bangkok Rules)) protect prisoners. States however have discretion defining humane treatment adequate medical detention settings. In this Review Essay, we focus on right to health women based environment conducive health, access gender-responsive, non-discriminatory healthcare equivalent that community. We scrutinized all United Nations Committee Elimination Discrimination against Torture Concluding Observations published since 2010, provide a global illustration violations women’s settings date. document inadequate accommodation women, services while detained, particularly relating HIV reproductive mental drug dependence some countries. Human identified reflect 39 countries presented as: description their concern pertaining country’s detention; collectively terms particular Rule (5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14–16, 34, 35, 48 51). Our investigation raises general questions around continued lack resourcing gender-responsive programming, data advocacy behalf routine scrutiny unique assurances within independent monitoring inspection over world.