Rehabilitation or Human Rights Deprivation: A Scoping Analysis of Existing Literature on the Plight of Women in Nigeria’s Correctional Centres

Women in Nigeria's correctional centres face numerous challenges that hinder their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. This paper explores the plight of women in Nigerian prisons through a comprehensive review of existing literature, and relevant secondary data. The review draws on a range of scholarly sources, including journal articles, reports, and relevant laws and treaties that protect the right of women in prison. Data from the Nigerian Correctional Service reveals that women constitute approximately 2% of the total prison population in Nigeria. However, women face unique challenges related to their sex, including sanitation, hygiene, pregnancy and child care, healthcare, education, and vocational training. Additionally, women in Nigerian prisons are often subjected to violence and sexual abuse from both prison staff and fellow inmates. The literature also highlights the role of socio-economic factors in women's incarceration, including poverty, lack of education, and limited access to justice. The review identifies several gaps in the existing literature, including the impact of prison conditions on mental health. Based on the findings, the paper concludes that Nigeria Correctional Centres are far from being ‘rehabilitation’ centres, but are human rights deprivation facilities, particularly for women. It was recommended that there is a need for urgent interventions that would address the plight of women in Nigerian correctional centres, to promote human rights and social justice for all. This can be done by improving prison conditions, strengthening legal frameworks, and investing in gender-sensitive rehabilitation programmes.