4th November 2008
The number of women in prison in the UK has spiraled from some 1,500 to more than 4,000 over the past ten years.
More than one half of these women have a child under age 16. Eurochips member Action for Prisoners’ Families (APF) is organizing a conference to coincide with its General Assembly meeting on November 4 entitled “Women Beyond Bars,” to be held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London.
The conference explores the impact of imprisonment on family members, with a performance of a new play by Mary Cooper entitled “Missing Out,” performed by the theater company Clean Break. Speakers include Maria Eagle MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, with responsibility for women and criminal justice.
A series of workshops will be organized on such themes as children’s legal rights, telling difficult messages to children, resettling women after prison, and campaigning.