Conflict Resolution Center recommends organising an integrated programme to support women prisoners

Gaza, Publication and Information Unit:
The Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution, within the project for supporting and empowering women victims of violence, recommended organising an integrated programme to provide psychological and social support to women inmates while they are in prison and after their release, as well as working to provide legal and psychological assistance to women inmates and to reintegrate them into society.

These recommendations came during a workshop the Centre held on 1/12/2011 within the events of the 16 days campaign to combat violence against women, entitled "The nature of communication between female supervisors and women prisoners", with the participation of representatives of the prisons administration and a select group of lawyers and psychologists.

At the start of the workshop, the director of the prison clinic, Raed Hussein, spoke about the reality of the prisons in the Gaza Strip and about the services the clinic provides to sick women prisoners. He stressed that the condition of the prisons is difficult and needs development and the allocation of larger budgets, despite the poor economic conditions caused by the siege and the occupation.

For her part, Lieutenant Colonel Nermeen Adwan, director general of the women's police, mentioned some of the services provided by the staff working in the prisons administration and the positive performance of the female guards in dealing with women prisoners. She noted the founding of the safe house set up for women prisoners who refuse to return to their families for fear of violence being practised against them again, as well as the prisons administration's readiness to receive specialists from organisations to support women prisoners.

For her part, lawyer Islah Hasaniya stressed the importance of the role of civil society organisations in changing society's view of women inmates and that everyone is liable to make mistakes. Lawyer Saher Al-Waleed said: "Guarantees must be available for the accused, among them providing a dedicated lawyer to plead on their behalf, and they must be informed of these guarantees, with attention given to addressing their cases."

For her part, the specialist Huda Jouda urged the prisons administration to change the view of community organisations that are wary of dealing with the prisons administration in the Gaza governorates, and to try to find means of communication and coordination with the aim of providing better services to women prisoners and helping them to overcome the difficulties of integrating into society.

At the close of the meeting, the Palestinian Center affirmed the memorandum of understanding signed with the General Administration of Correction and Rehabilitation Centres, which aims at providing legal, psychological and social services to women and men prisoners inside the prison.