Sharp rise in number of female inmates in Belgium

According to the British Institute for Criminal Policy Research, the number of women prisoners around the world has exceeded the 700,000 mark for the first time, or an increase of about 50% compared to 2000. The results show that the number of women prisoners worldwide is increasing faster than the number of male inmates. Belgium follows this trend, reports De Morgen.

The study, based on data from 219 countries, reveals that the total number of women prisoners is rising sharply worldwide. Figures from the federal justice department show that Belgium reached more than 500 female inmates in 2014, an increase of 25% compared to 2006, when there were approximately 400 women incarcerated. In total, about 2% of Belgian prisoners are women.