Fifteen Years of the Bangkok Rules and the Overlooked Health Needs of Women in Correctional Systems.
Written by: Naledi Selebano
The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders, commonly known as the Bangkok Rules, were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 21 December 2010, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of women’s rights within the criminal justice system. As of 2025, these rules will be 15 years old.
The Bangkok Rules were championed by Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand through the Kamlangjai (Inspire) project, which was initiated to address the unique and often overlooked needs of women within the criminal justice system. These rules establish a comprehensive framework aimed at ensuring the humane treatment of women inmates and promoting non-custodial measures for women offenders. The Rules aim to meet the specific health, psychological, and social needs of women, with an overarching goal of reducing unnecessary incarceration.
Since their adoption, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has published research reports in 2017, 2018, and 2024 that reveal a troubling reality relating to the health and wellness needs of women in correctional facilities. The reports indicate that the well-being of women inmates is often overlooked, severely underfunded, and deprioritized. The reports showed that this systemic neglect subjects women inmates not only to the terms of their sentences but also to conditions that can be deemed violations of human rights.
The CGE found that mental health issues, such as trauma, depression, and anxiety, were prevalent among women in correctional facilities. However, psychological services remained grossly inadequate. Inmates suffering from these conditions frequently went without consistent mental healthcare, and the correctional officers’ training in mental health support was often non-existent or insufficient.
The studies revealed that women in correctional facilities face unique health challenges that demand attention. Many of the women are survivors of gender-based violence, navigate chronic illnesses, or endure the emotional pain of being separated from their children. Yet, the correctional system largely follows a male-centric model, failing to address the gender-specific dimensions of incarceration adequately.
Furthermore, the CGE’s findings were particularly alarming regarding reproductive health issues. For instance, reports from Pollsmoor Correctional Centre indicate that women were required to prove they were menstruating to receive sanitary pads. This indignity mirrors a broader culture of institutional indifference and, at times, misogyny. Such practices not only undermine the dignity of women inmates but also reflect the lack of basic human rights provisions within the correctional facilities.
Additionally, the absence of gender-sensitive infrastructure, characterized by broken showers, overcrowded cells, and poor ventilation, further exacerbates the spread of infectious diseases and erodes the dignity of all inmates. This situation is exceptionally dire for women with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ individuals, who face compounded challenges of exclusion, discrimination, and vulnerability within the correctional services system.
The South African legislative framework, as stipulated in the Correctional Services Act No. 111 of 1998, requires correctional facilities to serve as environments for rehabilitation rather than re-traumatization. As such, recognizing and addressing the distinct health needs of women inmates should be treated as a public health imperative and an essential aspect of gender justice. This should entail the following:
- Investing in the recruitment and training of mental health professionals specialized in trauma-informed care.
- Ensuring accessible reproductive health services, including the provision of sanitary products, to uphold the fundamental dignity of women.
- Training correctional staff in gender sensitivity and human rights to foster an environment of respect and care.
- Implementing policies and practices that protect vulnerable populations, including women, and uphold their inherent dignity.
All these areas are provisions enshrined in the Bangkok rules and demand advocacy for women’s rights to ensure that their needs are met within the framework of rehabilitation and social justice. The CGE has done crucial work in highlighting the systemic flaws within the corrections system in its reports. The responsibility lies with the Department of Correctional Services, Parliament, and other relevant stakeholders to take actionable steps in response to these findings.