TIJ Bangkok Rules

Bangkok Rules : Key principles

The 70 Rules of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules) are connected and overlaid by the principle of non-discrimination, emphasizing that catering to gender-specific needs of women prisoners is not an act of discrimination. Instead, since most correctional facilities have been built to meet men’s needs, failing to address women’s specific needs prohibits them from gaining equal opportunity to rehabilitate.

Bangkok Rules : Admission Procedures

Admission period is when prisoners are at their most vulnerable state, due to mental and physical factors deriving from rapid changes in their situations. Hence, fear or anxiety are some of the feelings that are common to everyone. Moreover, some prisoners may have chronic illnesses or drug withdrawal symptoms that require immediate medical attention. Therefore, the Bangkok Rules places great emphasis on the admission procedures especially on gender-sensitive search procedures, primary health screening, and comprehensive classification methods.

Bangkok Rules : Contact with the outside world

The Bangkok Rules provides that women prisoners should be given opportunities to contact their family members, especially their children, consular officials and legal representatives as it is one of the factors that help maintain their mental health. Ultimately, the quantity and quality of these opportunities can be a defining factor for the prisoners’ capacity and determination to rehabilitate successfully.

Bangkok Rules : Rehabilitation

The Bangkok Rules places importance on access to gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory work, vocational and education programmes in prison. Taking note of marginalized backgrounds of most women prisoners, it is important that, while in prison, prisoners are given opportunities to enhance their knowledge and skills, in order to build capacity to socially reintegrate and have quality life choices after release.

Bangkok Rules : Pregnant women and mothers with accompanying children

Prison shall provide for the full range of needs of pregnant women and children who accompany their mothers in prison to ensure good health and development of these children. Therefore, mother with children should have access to a specific facility for children including quality medical and physical supplies.

Bangkok Rules : Gender-sensitive healthcare

Gender-sensitive healthcare responses, including reproductive healthcare, mental health issues, substance abuse and the treatment and care of other diseases are the crucial part of the Bangkok Rules. It also provides a principle that women prisoners should have access to the same healthcare system identical to that of the community.

About Bangkok Rules & TIJ

The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 21 December 2010, is the first international instrument which provides specific and detailed guidelines on responding to the gender specific needs of women in the criminal justice system, as well as of the children of such women. After the adoption, Thailand, along with many other countries, international organizations and criminal justice agencies working with women, place a strong emphasis on putting these Rules into practice.