Human Rights
Chapter 3:
Growing up in institutions: early childhood in non-family residential care and in prisons
This chapter addresses some of the obstacles that girls and boys under State Care during their early childhood have to face; having to grow up in institutions. The focus is on those up to three years of age in alternative care modality protection residences and those who remain in prisons with their mothers deprived of freedom.
In these complex settings, the State’s actions deeply influence their experiences, well-being, and development, as well as the satisfaction of their various needs and the acknowledgment of their rights. It requires the design and timely, efficient, and effective implementation of public policies that duly respond to their protection due to their status as subjects of rights and the crucial stage of the life cycle in which they find themselves. The chapter is closely complemented and linked with chapters 1 and 2 of the third part of this Annual Report.
Chapter summary video
Testimonies of mothers deprived of liberty accompanied by their children
In Chile, women deprived of freedom can request the Guarantee Court or the Family Court to go to jail with their child under two years of age.
In the testimonial video, four mothers relate their time in jail with their daughters and sons. In addition, in written format, two testimonies of mothers are presented who tell their experience of motherhood in confinement.
Jesús y Andrea
Andrea had her son, Jesus, in a prison. She is sentenced to three years in prison, of which she has served one. Today Jesus is already seven months old.
Read testimony
Ignacia y Gisele
Gisele was admitted to the correctional facility when she was 13 weeks pregnant. There she lived most of her pregnancy, deprived of her freedom. Today her daughter Ignacia is already one year and four months old.
