Sisters Inside Inc. is an idependent community organization which exists to advocate for the human rights of women in the criminal justice system

Sisters Inside Inc.
ABN 94 859 410 728
P.O. Box 3407
South Briasbane Qld 4104

Ph: (07) 3844 5066
Fax: (07) 3844 2788

Email: admin@sistersinside.com.au
Web: www.sistersinside.com.au

February 7, 2003

Kim Pate
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
701, 151 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5H3

Dear Kim,

Re: Systemic Review of Human Rights Abuses in Canada

Please forward this message to the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the women who have survived human rights abuses whilst in prison. Such experiences in prison impact them while they are inside and after they are released into their communities.

These women are to be commended for their bravery. I am overwhelmed at their courage to come forward and share what will no doubt be the worst examples of such abuses in prison. I hope that the Canadian Human Rights Commission recognize that these women who have survived the prison system, need to be respected and listened to as experts and the best chroniclers of what the real practices are in Canadian prisons.

As the Director of Sisters Inside, a community based organisation that advocates for the human rights of women in the criminal justice system in Australia, alongside women in prison. We commend CAEFS for ensuring that women who have lived the experiences of Canadian women’s prisons are promoted to the Canadian Human Rights Commission as they proceed with the systemic review of the human rights abuses experienced by federally sentenced women.

When I traveled Canada and visited many of the federal women's prisons in June last year, I was expecting to view and experience the most innovative practices in all areas of women's prisons in the world. The tremendous amount of publicity and propaganda from Canada that is promoted and distributed here in Australia certainly has led many of us to believe that Canada has a stellar reputation in terms of human rights and legal protections of prisoners. The reality was so very different than the image for which Canada is known.

We would very much appreciate it if you could submit the following information on behalf of Sisters Inside. The systemic human rights abuses that I witnessed as I visited women's prisons across Canada included: