On March 13, 2008, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the “particular situation of women in prison and the impact of the imprisonment of parents on social and family life.” (cited in: European Parliament adopts resolution on situation of women in prison and the impact of the imprisonment of parents on social and family life). The EP calls on its Member States to incorporate gender equality into prison policies and to adopt a comprehensive health policy focusing on providing adequate psychological treatment, and takes in account the specific circumstances of women. The EP also calls on the Members States to favor community-based sentences, to build knowledge on “the effectiveness of vocational training and social reintegration measures,” “to respect fully the development of sexual orientation and the different forms of family life,” to “end the detention of girls and boys aged 18 and under in adult prisons,” and to “ensure that children's rights are respected in the consideration of matters relating to the imprisonment of mothers.” (cited in: European Parliament adopts resolution on situation of women in prison and the impact of the imprisonment of parents on social and family life).
Lastly, the EP asks both the Commission and the Member States to fund prison-studies from “a gender point of view,” and studies on the causes of crime and “the effectiveness of penal systems, with a view to improving the participation of prisoners, male and female, in social, family and working life.” (cited in: European Parliament adopts resolution on situation of women in prison and the impact of the imprisonment of parents on social and family life).
Compiled from: “European Parliament adopts resolution on situation of women in prison and the impact of the imprisonment of parents on social and family life,” socialplatform, 20 March 2008.