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NEWS & LETTERS, February - March 2007Women World Wideby Mary Jo Grey National opposition and a prisoner lawsuit forced the state of Arkansas to pass a ban on restraining pregnant inmates in labor with chains, shackles or handcuffs. Shawanna Nelson challenged this barbaric practice after she was chained during more than 12 hours of labor before being transferred to a hospital. The guard refused to remove the chains until the actual delivery, despite requests from a doctor and two nurses. “It is not necessary to shackle a woman when you’ve already got armed guards there who are ready to shoot to kill if necessary,” said Democratic State Representative Sharon Dobbins, sponsor of the legislation. Twenty-three state prison systems and the Federal Bureau of Prisons allow the shackling of prisoners during labor and childbirth. —Information from PRISON LEGAL NEWS * * * In the Philippines, Judge Benjamin Pozon decided not to downgrade the rape charges against three of four U.S. marines among the original six accused of gang-raping a 22-year-old Filipina at the former U.S. naval base in Subic, Olongapo, Philippines. GABRIELA Network, a Philippine-U.S. women’s organization, welcomed this decision but called for heightened vigilance to ensure that the decision is not reversed and immediate justice is achieved for the rape victim. They demand an end to the U.S.-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement that perpetuates violence against Filipina women. —Information from GABRIELA Network USA |
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