Statement on Announcement of Women’s Justice Board Members
21st January 2025
The government’s launch of the Women’s Justice Board today marks a significant step towards creating a fair and effective Criminal Justice System (CJS). As per our statement of 24th September 2024, we regard this as a crucial and long-overdue reform in addressing how the CJS treats women.
We welcome the remarks made by Shabana Mahmood, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, at the launch, and by her recognition of the progressive reforms needed:
“The simple truth is that we are sending too many women to prison. Many are victims themselves, and over half are mothers, leaving a child behind when they go inside. We need to do things differently… It is high time we found better solutions to help vulnerable women turn their lives around.”
We also welcome the remarks made by James Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending and chair of the Women’s Justice Board, as reported in The Guardian today. In particularly we are encouraged by his acknowledgement of the need for to reverse the rise in the imprisonment of women and instead promote the use alternative forms of punishment and rehabilitation.
“There are far too many women, in my view, who are very ill. There are far too many women who are victims themselves. There are far too many women who are very, very vulnerable… We need to do things differently.” – James Timpson
As a specialist organisation supporting Black and minoritised migrant women, we understand that prison is an inherently violent system and that the prison system is at breaking point. Instead of supporting and rehabilitating those within it, it is causing significant harm, particularly to those who face intersectional discrimination.
Responding to the Women’s Justice Board announcement Hibiscus Head of Policy and Public Affairs said:
“For years, alongside our colleagues across the sector, we have advocated for a system that addresses the needs of all women, many of whom are victim/survivors of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and other serious crimes themselves. Achieving this requires a radical shift away from the imprisonment of women and towards community-based alternatives.
We hope to have the opportunity to contribute our expertise to ensure that the rights and dignity of all women are upheld. By doing so, we can help break cycles of trauma and build pathways towards lasting rehabilitation”.