“WOMEN PRISONERS IN PAKISTAN : CHANGING PRACTICES TO ENFORCE LAWS & RIGHTS”

Abstract

Women in Pakistan have always struggled to balance their domestic and social lives; sometimes their own relatives and blood relations deceive them and make them act as criminal. The situation is getting worst when they imprisoned. Jails should provide
correctional facilities but ground realities are very different. Laws are made for the protection of women but Government is fail to implement them as well. Women either in police custody or in jail are in quite horrible and dreadful situation. It is hard to measure their physical and mental state as they do not easily discuss their problems with anyone. Women prisoners who live with their children or have children outside the jail confront more psychological issues than others. More than 60% of women prisoners are mothers of little children. 3% of women’s children are living in jail with them. Most prisons are overcrowded and few provide rehabilitative services to prisoners. Majority of female prisoners are illiterate and unaware of their legal rights. These female prisoners accused of many crimes actually committed by their male partners are forced to live behind bars.