18 Oct 2021 Across the globe, the number of women imprisoned is rising. This is happening at a much faster rate than the increase in the overall prison population. There is a higher global number of female prisoners convicted of drug-related offenses (35%) than their male counterparts (19 %). These figures illustrate the disproportionate impact of narcotic policies and imprisonment upon women, who often bear the burden of family care, histories of violence and abuse, and socio-economic factors causing them to commit crimes. Gender-blind policies in detention facilities put women at risk of discrimination, sexual violence, and other human rights violations. In addressing gender-differentiated needs of women in conflict with the law the ‘Women’s Access to Justice in Asia and the Pacific’ project promotes non-custodial measures as an alternative to incarceration.