BACKGROUND
The Commission on Human Rights is mandated to visit detention cells to know the
situation of the persons committed inside, and to know issues and concerns if there
are any, inside detention cells.
The focus discussion with senior citizen women inmates in Butuan City Jail is done by
the CHR-Caraga Regional Office and the Center for Gender Equality and Women’s
Rights. This is in the belief that all women, rich or poor, educated or not educated,
free or behind bars, have their stories to tell and are equal with their rights among
each other.
The results of the conducted FGD will serve as basis for recommendations if there are
any, focusing on the situation of senior citizen women in detention particularly in
Butuan City Jail.
OBJECTIVES
Though this FGD the objectives are the following:
1. To get information regarding experiences of senior citizen women in detention.
2. To give senior citizen women the opportunity to tell their experiences in
detention regarding a) situation in jail; b) protection and security from violence;
c) health and well-being; d) mother and children relationship needs especially
with their situation.
3. To check if the government has properly or efficiently dispensed its function in
protecting and preventing violence against senior citizen women in detention.
4. To give the opportunity of senior citizen women inmates to express themselves
through their artwork.
METHODOLOGY
After weeks of preparation and coordination with the administration of Butuan City
Jail, CHR-Caraga visited Butuan City Jail and conducted the focus group discussion.
There were three FGD sectors namely, for women, for senior citizen women, and
LGBTQ. This documentation focuses on the FGD for senior citizen women in detention.
Questions were prepared by CHR Caraga beforehand, and each FGD has one facilitator
and one documenter. After an informal introduction of the participants, the facilitator
Page 2 of 17