When we talk about ‘public safety,’ we rarely talk about what actually keeps people safe: strong communities, basic needs met, and systems that heal instead of harm. Senator Kim Pate is a lifelong advocate for criminal legal reform. She’s worked both on the frontlines with women inside Canadian prisons and in the Senate advancing policy change. Kim makes a clear case for shifting resources from punishment to community and building the supports that prevent criminalisation in the first place.

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in this episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/kim

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In Iran, under the country’s “blood money” laws, even in death, women are valued less. And for those facing the death penalty, discrimination runs deep from child marriage to poverty and domestic violence.

Today’s guest is Leila, a British-Iranian human rights advocate with Iran Human Rights, an organization fighting to abolish the death penalty. Leila reveals how Iran’s justice system is used as a tool of repression against women and why international solidarity can literally save lives.

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in this episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/leila

Learn more about Iran Human Rights:

https://www.iranhr.net

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Today Lawyer and human rights advocate Nicolás Laino discusses how poverty, violence, and inequality contribute to women’s criminalization. He shares stories from his work as a public defender in Argentina, the importance of early, gender-sensitive legal aid, and how lawyers and policymakers can better support women behind bars. Nicolás also highlights global efforts to train legal professionals and include people with lived experience in shaping justice.

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in this episode, visit womenbeyondwalls.org/nicolas

Photo essay - women in prison in Argentina - drug offences: theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/07/argentina-drug-offences-women-jails-photo-essay

Grassroots Justice Network: grassrootsjusticenetwork.org

UN Legal Aid Principles and Guidelines:

penalreform.org/issues/pre-trial-justice/4716-2/legal-aid-principles-guidelines/

https://legalempowermentfund.org

The Woman in the Line movie:

imdb.com/title/tt27698095/

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Harriet Wistrich is a pioneering lawyer and activist who has spent 30 years supporting survivors when the criminal legal system falls short. Today, we go beyond prejudices to discuss landmark cases where women were punished for defending themselves against abuse. Harriet explains why it’s so important for courts to consider long-term abuse, coercive control, and trauma and why legal reform is still needed to ensure women get fair trials.

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in this episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/harriet

Sister in Law: Fighting for Justice in a System Designed by Men – Harriet Wistrich’s Book: www.penguin.co.uk/books/455720/sister-in-law-by-wistrich-harriet/9781804995990

CWJ Report Women Who Kill: How the State Criminalizes Women We Might Otherwise Be Burying – 2021

Centre for Women’s Justice: www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk

International Feminist Legal Network: www.feminist-legal.com

Video: Emma Humphreys - An Inspiring Legacy by Pratibha Parmar

Video: Fri’s Story (CWJ):

https://vimeo.com/889156729/29c0b14998?fl=pl&fe=vl

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Women are the fastest-growing prison population worldwide, often locked up for low-level drug offenses tied to poverty, coercion, or survival. In this minisode, Marie Nougier from the International Drug Policy Consortium talks about moving beyond punitive drug laws that harm women and what compassionate, evidence-based alternatives could look like.

Learn more about the International Drug Policy Consortium: idpc.net

10-point plan: Gender-sensitive drug policies for women (2021):

www.penalreform.org/resource/10-point-plan-gender-sensitive-drug-policies-for-women

“No One Believed Me”: A Global Overview of Women Facing the Death Penalty for Drug Offenses:

https://dpw.lawschool.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/No-One-Believed-Me-A-Global-Overview-of-Women-Facing-the-Death-Penalty-for-Drug-Offenses.pdf

IDCP: Justice is setting them free: Women, drug policies, and incarceration in Latin America:

​​https://idpc.net/publications/2023/11/justice-is-setting-them-free-women-drug-policies-and-incarceration-in-latin-america

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in this episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/marie

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Today, Rosma Karlina talks about her experiences with drug use and her time in prison, highlighting the harm caused by incarceration and forced rehabilitation programs. She also explains why health-focused, human-rights approaches like peer support, counselling, and community programmes are so important for women who use drugs.

Rosma is the director of SPINN, an Indonesian community group supporting women and trans women who use drugs. She is also part of the International Network of Formerly Incarcerated Women.

Learn more about the International Network of Formerly Incarcerated Women: theinfiw.com

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in this episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/rosma

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Some say that when you imprison a mother, you imprison a family. Today, Dr. Shona Minson, Researcher at Oxford University’s Centre for Criminology, shares her groundbreaking work on the often invisible impact of maternal imprisonment on children. She goes beyond stereotypes that label incarcerated women as “bad mothers,” showing how poverty, stigma and systemic discrimination push women into prison and how these injustices reverberate through generations.

BBC Video, What happens when your Mum goes to prison: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYLKW4aOhWE

Talking About Methods Podcast: Shona Minson on Vicarious Trauma in Socio-legal research: open.spotify.com/episode/0ZBIzHyDYOf1DohjY4gzav

YouTube: Safeguarding Children when Sentencing Mothers: youtube.com/watch?v=XBY7hjsb-O0

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in Pamela’s episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/shona

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Pamela Winn discovered she was pregnant while incarcerated in the USA. Shackled during transport and denied proper medical care, she endured harsh conditions no pregnant woman should face.

Today, Pamela asks us to go beyond stigma and recognise the humanity of incarcerated women, including mothers. She also talks about her work with RestoreHER, an organisation pushing for real policy change to help women caught up in the criminal legal system.

Learn more about RestoreHER: restoreher.us

The Women’s CARE (Childbirth Alternatives, Resources & Education) Act: restoreher.us/womenrsquos-care-act.html

RestoreHER Instagram: instagram.com/restoreher.usa

RestoreHER Facebook: facebook.com/restoreher.usa

RestoreHER Twitter/X: twitter.com/RestoreHER_USA

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in Pamela’s episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/pamela

WINN | Juried Prize Winner | 2023 PBS Short Film Festival: youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=xVFRSMOgMSw

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