Rights of women offenders violated in federal corrections, CHRC reports.

OTTAWA -- Women offenders in the federal correctional system still face continuing, systemic human rights offences, particularly towards Aboriginal women, racialized women and women with disabilities says a recent report from the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The report on women serving sentences of two years or more in Canada is a response to a complaint filed by the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies and the Native Women's Association of Canada in 2001.

Protecting Their Rights, the CHRC'S report, outlines three guiding principles to be followed by Correctional Services Canada and contains 19 recommendations ranging from needs assessment to segregation. To ensure compliance with the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Commission says CSC "must accommodate women's differences, rather than treating inmates identically based on stereotypes and perceptions, of treating women prisoners the same as men."

The CHRC'S report, which revealed disturbing statistics about the treatment and make up of women prisoners in the federal system, also noted that there has been some progress in "developing a system specifically for women offenders ...," but it does not go far enough to take into account the reasons women offend, which are different from men, their life experiences, which frequently entailed abuse or sexual abuse, and their unique needs.

"Throughout the report," according to CAEFS Executive Director Kim Pate 'the Commission points to the tragic consequences that result from the defective manner-in which women are initially assessed. Aboriginal women and women with mental disabilities are especially over-classified, often kept in segregated, isolated living conditions."

Unlike male offenders, women, who account for less than 5 per cent of all federal offenders, are more often first-time offenders and receive shorter sentences than male offenders, because their crimes are generally less-violent. As well, federally sentenced women have disproportionate rates of physical and mental disabilities, and are three times more likely to suffer from depression than their male counterparts. They also experience higher rates of mental illness and engage in greater rates of self-destructive behaviour, such as slashing, cutting and suicide attempts. In addition, women offenders, who suffer from mental health, cognitive and substance abuse, are disproportionately classified as maximum security.

For aboriginal women offenders the statistics are worse, and paint a disturbing picture of their treatment in federal prisons. Although they account for only 3 per cent of the Canadian female population, aboriginal women make up 29 per cent of the women in federal prisons, while the number sentenced to federal institutions is increasing and the number sentenced to maximum security in federal corrections account for 46 per cent of the maximum-sentenced female population.

Among its recommendations the CHRC urges:

* the CSC to develop and implement a needs-assessment tool that "responds to the needs of federally sentenced women," including Aboriginal women, racialized women, and women with disabilities.

* a security classification tool be developed explicitly for federally-sentenced women so that their lower risk to public safety is taken into account.

* all Aboriginal women offenders sentenced as maximum security be immediately reassessed using a gender-responsive tool, and that the blanket policy of not allowing maximum security Aboriginal women to attend the Healing Lodge be changed and be based on individual assessment.

* the policy which requires all offenders serving minimum life sentences for first or second degree murder be classified as maximum security for at least the first two years of their sentences be "rescinded immediately in favour of fair and balanced individual assessment."

"The number of times that the Commission calls for reviews, audits and external accountability shows they understand the urgent need to address the human rights violations experienced by women prisoners," stated Dr. Ailsa M. Watkinson, President of CAEFS. www.chrc-ccdp.ca