Part II: Sex-based violence against women and girls: new frontiers and emerging issues

Amie Ichikawa's Submission to the United Nations on behalf of incarcerated women

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem, recently sought input from stakeholders for her forthcoming report, “Forms of sex-based violence against women and girls: new frontiers and emerging issues,” which will be presented to the Human Rights Council in June of 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

We also provided assistance to Amie Ichikawa and believe her letter to be of critical importance to the United Nations. Please find and follow Amie on X @ichinita310

United Nations

January 29, 2025

Letter to the United Nations Special Rapporteur

Dear Ms. Alsalem,

My name is Amie Ichikawa. I am a formerly incarcerated woman, an advocate for the rights of women in prison, and a firm believer that all incarcerated individuals should be treated with respect, dignity, and agency. I write to you today to shed light on the devastating human rights abuses unfolding within the U.S. prison system, particularly against incarcerated women. These abuses, driven by gender ideology and misguided policies, demand immediate international attention.

California’s Elimination of Women’s Prisons

In January 2021, California enacted the Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act (SB 132), which effectively abolished the concept of women’s prisons. This law permits incarcerated individuals to self-identify their gender and request placement in facilities that align with their declared identity. It mirrors the federal “transgender offender manual” and was presented as a measure to restore rights to transgender individuals. In practice, however, it has placed incarcerated women in grave danger.

Under this policy, trans-identified inmates’ personal sense of safety is prioritized over all other considerations, including criminal history, physical anatomy, or the well-being of the female population. Male-bodied individuals, including those with histories of violence against women, can gain access to women’s prisons simply by declaring themselves female. Denials of these transfers are exceedingly rare and must be justified in writing. The system’s fear of lawsuits from powerful trans advocacy organizations has further paralyzed corrections staff, leaving them unable to prevent or respond adequately to assaults on women.

The result has been catastrophic. Women in prison—many of whom are survivors of sexual abuse—are now forced to share spaces with male-bodied inmates, some of whom strongly resemble their abusers. These policies have led to documented cases of physical and sexual assaults, coerced pregnancies, and even forced abortions. Babies have been conceived within prison walls, all while the rights of women to safety and dignity have been systematically ignored.

Public Records Act Request: Transgender Medical Care

California’s corrections system has gone to extraordinary lengths to prioritize trans-identified prisoners’ requests. These inmates now have access to elective medical procedures previously unheard of in prison settings, including breast implants, facial feminization surgeries, Adam’s apple reductions, laser hair removal, vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, and even face-lifts.

There is no explicit limit on the number of procedures trans-identified prisoners may request, as all are deemed part of “gender-affirming care.” Meanwhile, women are denied basic medical necessities. Breast reductions are considered cosmetic, cancer treatments are delayed, and access to hormone replacement therapy for menopause is often ignored.

This disparity is emblematic of policies that place the wants of a few above the basic health needs of others.

Pregnancy Concerns in Women’s Prisons

The implementation of SB 132 has led to the shocking reality of pregnancies occurring in women’s prisons, despite claims by corrections officials that sexual activity in prisons is prohibited.

Such outcomes were predictable. Housing male-bodied individuals in women’s prisons creates conditions ripe for abuse and exploitation. Investigations into incidents of pregnancy have also raised alarming questions.

These incidents highlight the failure of these policies to protect incarcerated women from harm.

Condom Distribution in Women’s Prisons

California prisons have taken the disturbing step of installing condom dispensers in facilities housing women. Incarcerated women have been sent an unmistakable and dehumanizing message: that they are no longer viewed as individuals worthy of safety or dignity but as objects of sexual access for male-bodied inmates.

This development further underscores the systemic indifference to the rights and well-being of women in prison.

The Psychological Toll on Women in Prison

The majority of incarcerated women are survivors of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Forced to live alongside male-bodied inmates, many are re-traumatized daily. The threat of physical or sexual assault is constant, creating an environment of fear and hypervigilance.

Rehabilitation—the supposed cornerstone of incarceration—has become impossible. Women cannot focus on healing, remorse, or personal growth while living in a state of perpetual anxiety and trauma. This system utterly fails to prepare women for reintegration into society.

Institutional Indifference and Broader Implications

These abuses occur against the backdrop of widespread sexual misconduct by prison staff. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed by women alleging sexual abuse by corrections officers. At the California Institution for Women, a former officer was recently convicted on 64 counts of sexual assault.

Yet, the system now inflicts additional harm by forcing women to live alongside male-bodied individuals, further eroding their rights and humanity. The silence of advocacy groups on this issue—likely motivated by fear of backlash—only deepens the injustice.

A Call for Immediate Action

The abuses occurring in California’s prisons are a warning of what could become a global crisis if these policies are not confronted. To protect the human rights of incarcerated women, we must:

1. Adopt language and policies rooted in biological reality.

2. Treat all incarcerated individuals with dignity and respect while ensuring equal protection under the law.

3. Consider the safety and well-being of all inmates, particularly the most vulnerable, when making housing and policy decisions.

4. Reject any practices that place women at heightened risk of violence, coercion, or trauma.

Every incarcerated individual matters, regardless of their crimes. However, protecting the rights of one group cannot come at the expense of another. Women in prison deserve safety, dignity, and the opportunity to rehabilitate. Their lives should not be used as bargaining chips for political agendas or funding.

Thank you for the opportunity to bring this critical issue to your attention. I urge the United Nations to condemn the practice of mixed-sex housing in prisons and to advocate for policies that respect the rights and safety of all incarcerated individuals. Together, we can end this dark chapter in women’s history and ensure that these abuses are never repeated.

Respectfully,

Amie Ichikawa