Media Room

Statement by the Chief Commissioner

Following the release of the
Ten-Year Status Report on Women's Corrections 1996-2006,
by Correctional Service Canada.

The Correctional Service of Canada released yesterday a report on the actions it has taken in response to the recommendations made in four reports on the situation of federally sentenced women, including the Commission’s Protecting Their Rights: A Systemic Review of Human Rights in Correctional Services for Federally Sentenced Women.

The Commission understands the challenges faced by the Correctional Service and its operational realities and appreciates its hard work in this very difficult area of public administration. The Commission notes the continuous efforts of Correctional Service and commends it for establishing a productive dialogue with the Commission and its stakeholders. At the same time, the Commission is hoping for more progress in the future on the key recommendations, independent adjudication for segregation decisions and independent external redress.

The number of Aboriginal women who are incarcerated continues to increase. Although Aboriginal women account for 3% of the general female population, they account for 31% of the women in federal institutions. While the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal women is part of a broader systemic issue, the Commission remains concerned that Correctional Service’s programs and policies take into consideration the unique needs of Aboriginal women and ensure their effective and timely reintegration into the community.
          
The Commission will continue to work closely with Correctional Service in order to ensure that human rights considerations continue to be an integral part of Correctional Service’s internal decision making and policy development processes. We also look forward to working together with Correctional Service and its key stakeholders to find innovative ways of moving forward on the key recommendations.