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Prison in LuxembourgInmates no longer give birth tied up in front of police officers
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The ombudsman published a new report on the conditions of detention of women on Monday. Better has been observed, but “structural challenges persist”.
Luxembourg has eliminated the practice of restraining incarcerated women during childbirth, a policy that once involved being tied to the bed while giving birth in front of police officers. The change comes after a report highlighted unacceptable conditions for female inmates.
The external controller of places of deprivation of liberty (CELPL) released a report on Monday stating, “Wearing handcuffs or foot restraints, as well as tying a woman in any way to the birthing bed, should be definitively prohibited.” The report also asserts that any police presence in the delivery room is unacceptable.
In 2018, CELPL documented a case involving a young woman, seven months pregnant at the time of her incarceration for a minor offense. Upon going into labor, she was transported to the CHL hospital with a police escort. During the birth, four police officers—including three men—were present in the delivery room, and the woman was “secured to the bed by a foot restraint.” She remained “tied to her bed during the five days” she spent in the hospital’s maternity ward, requiring nursing staff assistance to reach her newborn.
“The police are now positioned outside the room”
Claudine Konsbruck, Luxembourg’s ombudsman, confirmed Monday that conditions have improved. “Women are no longer handcuffed or shackled, it was completely unacceptable,” she stated. Police are now stationed outside the delivery room. In recent years, only two women have given birth while incarcerated, described by Konsbruck as “extremely rare events.”
The report notes that, in some instances, the father of the child has been permitted to witness the birth. Police remain responsible for transport and security during and after childbirth, and women are housed in the maternity ward rather than secure hospital units designated for detained patients.
Inmate Violence and Limited Resources
The CELPL report, based on visits to the Luxembourg Prison Center (CPL) and the Givenich Prison Center (CPG) and approximately 50 interviews with inmates, staff, and authorities, found that women—representing about 10% of the prison population (33 at CPL and seven at CPG)—remain a “particularly vulnerable” group facing “persistent structural challenges” impacting their care, quality of life, and reintegration prospects.
“The overall problem is the lack of infrastructure available for women incarcerated in Schrassig and Givenich,” Konsbruck explained. At CPL, women are housed in Block F, a limited-capacity space where convicted, remand, and juvenile prisoners coexist without adequate separation, often in double or triple cells. This arrangement contributes to recurring tensions and instances of verbal and physical violence.
Outdated Training Programs
The ombudsman also criticized the vocational training offered to women in Schrassig, describing programs like ironing, washing, and sewing as “traditional and old-fashioned.” Konsbruck suggested, “The prison management should open mixed workshops where women can work with men, which would prepare them much better for life after prison.”
Access to psychiatric care at CPL also remains a concern, as women do not have access to the special P2 psychiatric unit. Konsbruck also expressed urgency regarding the opening of a dedicated juvenile detention center, stating, “who should not be in contact with adults, this is unacceptable.” While legislation has passed and a director selected, the new facility is not expected to open before 2030.
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