Short-term conjugal meetings in common space is inadmissible for female prisoners

Natia Gogolashvili

Human Rights Center is implementing the project Monitoring Conditions of Juvenile and Female Prisoners in Georgian Penitentiary. In the frame of the project, the monitors visit prison facilities and interview female and juvenile convicts. The project also provides the prisoners with free legal aid.

Monitor-lawyers state during short-term conjugal meetings female prisoners meet their family members in common space, which is not acceptable for them.

HRC lawyer Eka Kobesashvili said it is unpleasant for the convicted women to use common space during private meetings.

“The prisoners told us that they are meeting their underage children in the presence of other inmates and their family members that is not pleasant for them. They said it may provoke conflicts between prisoners,” Eka Kobesashvili said. 

It is noteworthy that the convicted women had the same problem several years ago too. HRC co-director Nino Tsagareishvili said the right to personal life is violated during short-term conjugal meetings. 

“Monitoring of the prison # 5 for female convicts in 2015 revealed that short-term conjugal meetings were conducted in common space and inmates did not have possibility to meet their family members in private space. Other prisoners also listened their conversation with family members that violated their right to personal life,” Nino Tsagareishvili said. 

The article was prepared in the frame of the project – “Monitoring Conditions of Juvenile and Female Prisoners in Georgian Penitentiary”, which is implemented by Human Rights Center with the Bulgarian Development Aid. The views in the article does not necessarily express the views of the donor and it is responsible for the content of the article.