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Women In Prison Network at CSW69
The Vance Center and Women in Prison Network at CSW69/Beijing+30
The Vance Center and its Women in Prison initiative are planning a series of events alongside the sixty-ninth session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, taking place in New York from March 10-21, 2025.
We invite Network members, partner organizations, legal practitioners, advocates, and members of the public engaged in work related to the rights of incarcerated women to join us for these discussions.
Find details about the events and registration links below.
Stay in the loop on CSW events with this helpful CSW69 Guide, created by Women in Prison Network member Women Beyond Walls.
About the Women in Prison Project: The Vance Center’s Women in Prison Project convenes women prisoners’ rights advocates from the Americas, Africa, and Asia to share information, build collective capacity, and pursue strategic litigation and advocacy related to women’s imprisonment. The Project coordinates all its work with its Women in Prison Network, a collaborative coalition of 52 individual advocates and organizations, the majority from the Global South, working at different intersections under the shared goal to protect the rights of women who encounter the law. Learn more about the Women in Prison Network.
March 13 | Breaking Barriers
Event Description
Join us for an engaging discussion focused on reintegration of women after their release from prison.
Women deprived of liberty face significant challenges upon release from prison and reintegration into society, including stigma, lack of access to employment, housing, and healthcare, and fractured family ties. These barriers are compounded by gender-specific discrimination and systemic issues within prison systems globally. Despite the existence of laws and programs designed to support reintegration, their inconsistent implementation and lack of awareness often leave women without the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
Building on the themes explored during the first-ever thematic hearing on this topic at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2024, this discussion seeks to advance the global conversation around the right to reintegration for women deprived of liberty, address some of the challenges they face, and work together to identify solutions.
Together, we will:
- Explore the global barriers to reintegration faced by women leaving prison, including systemic and gender-specific challenges.
- Share experiences and best practices from civil society organizations, advocates, and women directly impacted by incarceration.
- Identify actionable strategies for advancing the right to reintegration through legal, policy, and community-based approaches.
March 13, 2025
5:30-7:00 PM ET
New York City Bar Association, 42 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
This event is co-sponsored by the New York City Bar Association’s United Nations Committee. This is a hybrid event. Registration is required. Interpretation will be available in English and Spanish.
March 18 | From Justice to Freedom
Event Description
Leveraging innovative strategies to support women throughout all stages of the criminal justice system. Hosted in partnership with Winston & Strawn LLP.
Women in the criminal justice system face distinct challenges at every stage, from their initial contact with law enforcement to their experiences during incarceration and post-release. These challenges often arise from systemic gender biases, economic inequality, and caregiving responsibilities, leading to disproportionate impacts on women and their families.
Efforts to address these issues require a holistic, gender-based approach that spans from prevention, fair treatment during detention, and support for reintegration. This includes strategies to prevent incarceration altogether, ensure equitable conditions for women who are in prison, and provide tools for them to rebuild their lives after release. Sharing innovative practices across these stages can drive systemic change and create pathways to justice and freedom.
This event will provide a platform to discuss global innovations that address the unique challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system, offering lessons and strategies in law and practice that can inspire policy reform, advocacy, and program development.
In this discussion, we will:
- Highlight innovative, gender-sensitive approaches addressing challenges faced by women before incarceration, during prison, and post-release.
- Share examples of prevention strategies, equitable practices within prisons, and post-release support systems.
- Foster dialogue among policymakers, practitioners, and civil society organizations to encourage the adoption of effective strategies that center on fairness and gender equity.
March 18, 2025
4:00-5:30 PM ET
Winston & Strawn LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166
This is a hybrid event. Registration is required.
Strengthening the Women in Prison Network: A Breakfast Discussion
This event is by invitation only. Please contact the Vance Center’s Human Rights & Access to Justice program staff if you wish to attend.