In a significant move, the Goa Human Rights Commission addresses privacy concerns of women inmates, enforcing new guidelines for male officers.
Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: In a landmark decision aimed at safeguarding the privacy and dignity of women inmates, the Goa Human Rights Commission has issued a set of recommendations to the Central Jail, Colvale, addressing concerns over male officers visiting the female wards unaccompanied. The move follows complaints from the women inmates, prompting a thorough investigation by the commission.
In response to the grievances aired by the women inmates, the commission underscored the necessity for male officers to be accompanied by female wardens or officers during their visits to the female wards. The directive aims to enforce Rule 1445 of the Goa Prisons Rules, 2021, which is designed to protect the privacy of women inmates. This stipulation not only mandates the presence of female officers but also requires the documentation of the reasons for each visit in a report book, ensuring transparency and accountability in the operations within the female wards.
The commission’s decision came after a detailed examination of the complaints, which depicted a disturbing scenario on June 2, 2023, where male jail officers and IRB officers entered the women’s block without any clear justification, causing discomfort among the inmates. The situation was exacerbated by reports of an IRB officer using binoculars to observe the women from a nearby tower. In defense, Jailor Vithal Gawas, representing the superintendent of Central Jail, asserted that male officers were always accompanied by lady officers, a claim contradicted by the inmates’ experiences.
The commission has taken a proactive stance by not only recommending corrective actions but also ensuring that the findings and recommendations of its inquiry are made publicly accessible. By mandating the display of the inquiry report and its recommendations on the notice board outside the women’s block and forwarding the report to the court of the principal district and sessions judge, North Goa, the commission aims to foster a culture of accountability and respect for the rights of the inmates. This approach underscores the commission’s commitment to upholding human rights within the correctional system.
The Goa Human Rights Commission’s intervention highlights a critical step towards reinforcing the rights and dignity of women inmates in the Central Jail, Colvale. By addressing the immediate concerns and instituting measures for ongoing oversight, the commission not only responds to the specific incident but also sets a precedent for the treatment of women inmates in correctional facilities across the region. The move is expected to spark a broader dialogue on the rights of incarcerated women and the standards of their care and supervision.
