Water, women and prisons

By Brenda Macias

We are at an unprecedented turning point in the aftermath of climate change, unchecked urban sprawl, unsustainable management of non-renewable resources, and the commercialization of water. These challenges are unfolding in a context saturated with inequalities and ongoing conflicts reflecting an era of profound depletion.

In academia, in the media and in social networks, the debate around these issues has become more heated, reflecting a society increasingly alert to the possibility of universal drastic change. Some people are even exploring the colonization of new spaces, as if they were packing up to move to other worlds. In this context, the experiences and needs of incarcerated women go unnoticed, neglected in the noise of larger debates.

Prisons face a melting pot of challenges such as prison overcrowding, crumbling infrastructure and a chronic lack of fundamental services. These difficulties are further exacerbated by increasing water shortages and expected heat waves, not to mention future pandemics.