UN Experts Warn Over 740,000 Women Detained Globally, Call for Prison Protections

United Nations experts warned on February 18 that more than 740,000 women and girls are currently detained worldwide, with female prison populations having risen 60 percent since 2000.

The experts highlighted that women now account for about seven percent of all prisoners globally, noting insufficient access to justice, security, and dignity for those in detention. Most women are imprisoned for non-violent offenses linked to poverty, inability to pay fines, or punitive drug policies, according to the UN statement.

Detained women face heightened risks, including sexual and gender-based violence, poor healthcare, overcrowding, and other abusive conditions, the specialists stressed. They urged governments to review criminal laws affecting women and girls, and to ensure funding for community-led and women-led organizations providing protection and support.

The statement was issued ahead of the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, underscoring the global need for prison reform and gender-sensitive policies. UN experts called on nations to guarantee the safety of women in detention, reduce the criminalization of non-violent offenses, and prioritize gender-sensitive justice systems.