AMED, NORTHERN KURDISTAN
The Hak Initiative in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan released a report relating to the human rights violations suffered by women prisoners and their babies. The report, titled “the place of the children is home, not prison,” shared that as of November 2019, the number of children in prisons reached 780 according to unofficial figures.
Stating that the environment in which children are held with their mothers, especially those between 0-6 years of age, is not sufficient and the conditions are not in line with international standards. The Law No. 5275 on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures states that “The execution of imprisonment shall be postponed for women who have been pregnant or have not passed for 6 months from the date of birth.”
The statement emphasised that the law should be applied to everyone without exception, this is one of the most basic principles of the law. “However, this principle is not applied to some mothers and their babies in prisons in an arbitrary manner. Similarly, the requirements of international law are violated by this practice.”
In the statement, the Justice for Victims Community shared in a report, prepared on 21 January 2019, regarding the situations in prison. The report highlighted the following headings:
- Prisoners are put in dormitories exceeding the capacity three times. 86 percent of the participants confirm this.
- Very frequent and irregular ward searches are made as a means of intentional psychological pressure. 63 percent of the participants confirm this.
- 46 percent of the participants stated that they had heating problems in winter and 83 percent stated that they had cooling problems in summer.
- 55 percent say that clean water is not provided regularly and 52 percent say no clean water is provided.
- 65 percent stated problems with hot water supply.
- 54 percent say that they are not sufficiently taken to common areas.
- 92 percent say there is no opportunity for leisure activities.
- 57.5 percent stated that their right to access to health was not provided regularly, and 73 percent stated that there were not enough doctors in infirmaries.
- 80.4 percent stated that they had to be examined with handcuffs during their medical examinations.
- 68 percent stated that there was no timely response to emergencies.
- 84 percent of the respondents said that the physical conditions of prisons were not suitable for human life
- 67.8 percent said that prison staff do not show human treatment to prisoners.
Execution of pregnant women should be postponed
Until a permanent solution is provided, we will announce to the public that we will organize campaigns to raise public awareness continuously, we will take initiatives for interested parties and stakeholders, and we will organize events.”
