91997E1147

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1147/97 by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Council (2 April 1997)

Subject: Violation of human rights in women's prisons in the United Kingdom

There have been reports in the press that women prisoners in Holloway prison are forced to give birth chained to their beds.

1. Is the Council aware of this practice?

2. Does the Council not consider that this practice is inhumane and that such a violation of human rights in a women's prison should be condemned?

3. What steps does the Council intend to take to put an end to this violation of human rights?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0515/97, E-0630/97, E-1147/97 and E-1148/97 (27 May 1997)

The conditions in which prisoners are held in Member States' prisons are within the responsibility of the appropriate authorities of the Member States. The authorities of the Member State referred to in these questions have rejected entirely the allegations made. The Council recalls that all Member States are parties to the European Convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 and all Member States are parties to the European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of 26 November 1987.