From November 25-27, 2024, the TIJ, UNODC, and ILANUD co-hosted the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Consultative Meeting in San José, Costa Rica, building on the success of the first Asia-Pacific meeting earlier this year to advance the implementation of the Bangkok Rules.
The meeting gathered over 80 participants from 19 countries to share experiences, assess progress, and exchange best practices. The region, with over 95,000 incarcerated women—the highest rate globally at 13.7 per 100,000 people—faces significant challenges. Most of these women are under 40, with limited education, living in poverty, and incarcerated for non-violent, drug-related offenses, underscoring economic inequality and social pressures.
Discussions highlighted critical needs, including increased funding, better staff training, enhanced vocational programs, and improved care for children living with incarcerated mothers. Participants also called for stronger data collection and cross-sector collaboration to promote gender-responsive justice. A strong emphasis was placed on improving the treatment of female juveniles, transgender women, and foreign national women in prison.
Dr. Phiset Sa-ardyen emphasized, “The Bangkok Rules embody a spirit that unites us by putting people at the forefront. Women deprived of liberty are part of our families and society. Bringing positive change to their lives creates a safer, more humane, and fairer world.”
The meeting also explored funding gaps and proposed a framework for a global funding mechanism to support women in the justice system.
Chontit Chuenurah reiterated, “Women’s incarceration is often overlooked by donors and excluded from mainstream women’s rights discussions. While some parts of the Bangkok Rules can be implemented without extra funding, many require proper support to make a real impact.”
The event concluded with the announcement of Qatar as the host for the upcoming Middle East and North Africa meeting, ensuring the momentum for this global effort continues.
