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Press Release - July 16, 2002
Pregnant Women Prisoners
The Fiji Human Rights Commission has expressed great shock at the incident that happened in the Women’s Prison regarding Melania Tunidau’s miscarriage while in custody of the Police.
The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners specifically provides for this. The above Rules are what is expected as being good principle and practice in the treatment of prisoners and the management of institutions.
Article 23(1) of the Rules provides that
“In women’s institutions there shall be special accommodation for all necessary pre-natal and post-natal care and treatment…”
The Rules also has provisions for a medical officer to visit the prisons on a regular basis and examine each prisoner and take all necessary measures in relation to their specific mental and physical conditions.
The Prisons Act of Fiji also provides for the treatment and examination of prisoners by medial officers in the service of the Government.
Melania Tunidau should have been given normal treatment as any other pregnant woman during the term of her pregnancy, more so in light of the fact that she is on remand.
Prisoners detained in prisons have a right to receive medical treatment and they should not be denied of that right.