Proteksyon sa mga babaing nakakulong

Ang mga babaing nakakulong ay exposed sa pang-aabuso. Marami nang napabalitang insidente na may mga babaeng preso na nabugbog, natortyur o nagahasa, at marami sa kanila ay hindi na nakapagsusumbong sa otoridad o sa media dahil sa pangambang baka lalo silang gipitin at pag-initan sa loob ng kulungan.

Kaugnay nito, isinusulong ni Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada ang Senate Bill 758 (Women in State Custody Act).

Aniya, “Ang pagtitiyak ng mga karapatan ng mga napipiit, partikular ang mga babae, ay bahagi ng makatao at makatarungang lipunan. Layon ng aking panukala na isulong ang proteksyon at mga karapatan ng mga babaing napipiit, at ilatag ang sistema at mekanismo sa pagdinig at pagtugon sa kanilang mga hinaing kapag nalalabag ang kanilang karapatan.”

Ito ang ilan sa itinatakda ng panukala:

A.) This Act shall apply to all women in state custody­… under investigation and/or trial for offense or crime, or already sentenced with imprisonment by final judgment. It covers all detention and prison facilities… of the Bureau of Corrections, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Local Government Units, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

B.) Separate cells and facilities for women shall form part of jails and facilities… with particular regard to the circumstances of womanhood.

C.) Male security personnel shall not be allowed entry­ to detention/prison facilities of women. Where there is an inevitable situation which needs male security personnel in these facilities, there should be no contact between male security personnel and female detainees/prisoners without the presence of female security personnel.

D.) The Commission on Human Rights shall regularly visit and inspect the various women detention/prison cells and facilities. Independent women organizations may likewise inspect such places, in coordination with CHR.

E.) Prison institutions shall recruit an adequate number of women police officers to specialize in cases of violence against women. All detention/prison personnel shall receive mandatory training and information about unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment and protection of women’s rights.