Sen. Nancy Binay said what happened to political detainee Reina Mae Nasino and the death of her newborn daughter River should be a “wake-up” call for the government to look into the treatment of mothers and expectant mothers in jail.
(Jansen Romero / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In her message of solidarity for the International Day to End Violence Against Women, Binay said she has been pushing for a law that will prod courts to provide alternative modes of confinement for women detainees “for humanitarian and compassionate reasons.”
Her statement was read during a webinar organized by Tanggol Bayi, Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau, National Council of Churches of the Philippines, and UP Portia Sorority.
The senator said she has proposed a bill called “An Act Creating Programs for Incarcerated Parents and their Children” and is optimistic that it will be passed this Congress.
The bill, which the senator refiled this year, seeks to help incarcerated parents develop and maintain their relationship with their children.
“As we all know, children, especially minors, usually bear the brunt of having jailed parents. Their mental development and social behavior are affected, compounded by discrimination and social stigma as a result of having a parent in prison,” Binay said.
She noted that the children who are separated from their parents “are likely to end up being incarcerated themselves because they are left without an adult who could take over in taking care of their welfare.”
Under the proposed measure, the government will establish mechanisms that shall assist imprisoned solo parents to provide parental and child-rearing obligations.
It will also allow the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and other relevant institutions to conduct independent monitoring of the various prison facilities and make periodic and unannounced visits to the premises.
“We believe that through these unannounced site inspections, we can better manage our prisons, facilities, and monitor the welfare of people in prison,” Binay said.
The senator said it is important to review if the existing policies of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) regarding women detainees and their access to medicare care and facilities are still relevant with the times.