Thu 10 Mar 2016 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A transgender woman has allegedly been raped by two Corrections Officers at Whanganui Men’s Prison. The woman has made contact with prison activist group No Pride in Prisons, and alleges that she was raped by two Corrections Officers shortly after she was transferred to Whanganui Men’s Prison from another facility. She told No Pride in Prisons that she tried to report the incident to prison staff, who allegedly chose not to act on the complaint. No Pride in Prisons spokesperson Emmy Rākete, says the inmate revealed last week that she was raped by a third Corrections Officer in a gymnasium stairwell and the activist group immediately filed a formal complaint with prison management on her behalf. “Prison management told us that staff are skeptical of this complaint because of previous allegations that this woman has made against Corrections Officers,” says Rākete. “However, by the prison management’s own admission, at no point did they investigate those prior complaints.” No Pride in Prisons say the woman in question has become extremely fearful for her safety. “She has told us how these Officers are still in a position of power over her. She’s vulnerable and scared they could attack her again,” says Rākete. “Fear of reprisal has stopped her from speaking out in the past. She tells us that she has also been discouraged from reporting incidences of staff-on-inmate violence. Apparently, Prison Officers have told her not to file official complaints against staff. “The prison didn’t even bother to investigate the first time she told them she was raped by staff. Instead, it was allowed to happen again. She is worried that nothing will come out of her reporting this most recent incident. Rākete says that rape is a systemic issue in New Zealand prisons. “If they had taken her seriously the first time, this might not have happened again.” “This case is yet another demonstration that the Department of Corrections has no regard for the health and well-being of incarcerated people. In fact, it actively puts incarcerated people at risk.” No Pride in Prisons is demanding that a full and thorough investigation into both instances of alleged sexual assault take place by an independent authority. Rākete says “In the interim, the officers in question must be immediately suspended so as to prevent any potential backlash against the woman.” The group say if Corrections fails to ensure the safety of the inmate they will take further action to ensure this happens.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 10th March 2016 - 12:05pm