VOA Our Voices 333: Women Behind Bars

According to Penal Reform International, the number of women prisoners is soaring globally, rising 50% in Asia, 24% in Africa and 19% in Central and South America. Low-level non-violent crimes amid the Covid 19 pandemic that is often linked to poverty, adultery and harsh drug policies is fueling the recent spike of female imprisonment. On this week's edition of "Our Voices," we will look at the devastating impact incarceration has on women and why they find themselves behind bars despite calls for justice and penal reforms that address gender specific concerns.