Women are also detained as a result of conflict, often in worse conditions than men. This is primarily due to the fact that the majority of detainees are men, and there are few prisons or places of detention solely for women. In many cases women detainees are consequently housed in the men’s prison and, since they are fewer in number, their section is usually the smallest and lacks adequate sanitary and other facilities. The existence of a separate prison for women can also lead to problems. As women generally constitute only a minority of detainees, few prisons are built specifically for them. This means that the nearest women’s prison may be situated far from their home, and that by being sent there they are separated from their family and the support that families provide.
