Federally Sentenced Women Prisoners Begin Hunger Strike
Women inside Springhill Institution Protest Unjust Conditions

February 25, 2003

For Immediate Release

Federally Sentenced Women Prisoners Begin Hunger Strike

Three Aboriginal women imprisoned in a segregation unit at Springhill Institution, a men’s prison in Nova Scotia, started a hunger strike last night at midnight. The women began their non-violent action to protest the prison administration’s refusal to address their long-standing grievances.

Specifically, the women are protesting:

• the refusal of the prison to permit the women to attend sweat lodge ceremonies, in contravention of their statutory right to practise their religion in prison.
  
  
• the extension of the women’s unit closure at Springhill, which was to take place on March 31, 2003 and which may now be extended until September.
  
  
• the lack of programs available to women that would enable them to reduce their security designations.

After months of segregation, the three women have begun this hunger strike as they await transfers into the new maximum security prisons recently built for federally sentenced women across the country.

For more information, contact:

Kim Pate, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, 613-298-2422
Filis Iverson, Joint Effort, 604-872-5592
Shauna Paull, daare, 604-209-5776

To reach Springhill Institution, call: 902-597-8651

******

For those who would like to send letters in support:

Alan Alexander,
Warden, Springhill Institution
P. O Box 2140
Springhill, Nova Scotia
B0M 1X0
phone 902-597-8651

cc
Lucie McClung
Commissioner of Corrections
340 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa Ontario
K1A 0P9

Nancy Stableforth
Deputy Commissioner for Women
340 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa Ontario
K1A 0P9

Wayne Easter
Solicitor General of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa Ontario
K1A 0A6

Martin Cauchon
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
house of commons
ottawa ontario
k!a 0a6
fax 613-950-7255
phone 613-992-4621
email: webadmin@justice.gc.ca

Jean Cretien
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa Ontario
K1A 0A6
email: pm@pm.gc.ca

Office of the Correctional Investigator
P.O. Box 3421 station D
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6L4
phone 613-990-2695
fax 613-990-9091
toll free 1-877-885-8848
email: org@oci-bec.gc.ca

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Page last updated February 27, 2003