No Pride in Prisons is planning to picket the Department of Corrections Northern Regional office in Auckland to send a message that it can no longer ignore the safety of a trans woman who alleges she was raped in Whanganui men’s Prison. The protest group say, “We have recently been in contact with a trans woman who alleges she was raped by prison officers at Whanganui prison on two occasions. “Following a 'Call-in to Call Out Corrections', where hundreds of people from across the world wrote emails, letters, and called the Department of Corrections demanding justice for this woman, Corrections has continued to do nothing.” In March, Police confirmed they were investigating the case but could not comment further with this still underway. At the time Reti Pearse, Prison Director of Whanganui Men’s Prison told Gaynz.com Daily News that Corrections takes any allegation of sexual assault “extremely seriously”, however said that an internal investigation has “found no substance to the allegations”. The group say that Corrections has deliberately chosen not to keep the woman’s advocates at No Pride in Prisons informed about her case and has ignored No Pride in Prisons’ attempts to make contact on her behalf. They also say nothing has been done to ensure the woman’s safety in the prison. The picket will take place on Friday, April 22 between 8am and midday.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 14th April 2016 - 3:38pm