During the participation of the Federal Public Defender's Office (IFDP) in the 191st session period of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH), the concerning situation of the deaths of women in custody at the Federal Center for Social Reintegration 16 (Cefereso 16), a privately managed prison, was highlighted. Ruth Zenteno López, Director of Research and Access to Information of the Strategic Litigation Unit of the IFDP, emphasized the importance of considering measures beyond recreational ones, such as those that promote the reintegration of female inmates.
In the hearing, the need to implement attention and follow-up activities to ensure well-being and prevent deaths in the penitentiary was discussed. Zenteno stressed the urgency of addressing deaths in custody as a more complex issue than simply categorizing them as suicides, highlighting the need for thorough investigations to clarify the facts.
Among the critical points addressed is the number of deaths in Cefereso 16, which has risen to 19 since 2021, some of which have been categorized as suicides. Zenteno underscored the importance of proper monitoring of women's mental health, pointing out the lack of effective mechanisms to address the psychological issues present in the penitentiary.
The Director of Research of the IFDP also denounced the limitation on women's communication with their defenders, which hinders the proper follow-up of their judicial processes. She highlighted the importance of comprehensive and timely attention regarding mental health, criticizing the absence of specific programs that respond to the therapeutic needs of women incarcerated at Cefereso 16.
The hearing held at the CIDH allowed for visibility of the conditions that have led to the current issues in Cefereso 16, opening the possibility of taking precautionary measures to address the situation in the penitentiary and ensure respect for the human rights of incarcerated women.
