Description
The View Magazine launches Issue 16, a landmark winter edition that exposes systemic failures in prison healthcare while celebrating creativity and resilience. This 120+ page issue combines investigative journalism, testimony, and cultural commentary to reveal how women in prison
are denied basic rights, medical care, and dignity.
OPCAT Failures and Institutional Neglect
At the heart of Issue 16 is an investigation into the failures of OPCAT (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture) processes in the UK. Reports show that the Prison and Probation Ombudsman and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons have failed to uphold their duty to protect women in custody. Complaints are ignored, oversight is weak, and accountability is absent. These failures mean women with cancer are left untreated, chained during hospital visits, and denied access to lifesaving care. The Cancer Care in Crisis report, which is being developed by the Feminist Justice Coalition, and will be shared with the UN general assembly in 2026, the Council of Europe Justice Ministers’ Conference and the UK parliament, documents harrowing cases: women denied chemotherapy, mastectomy bras, or even basic nutrition. Testimonies from HMP Bronzefield and HMP Eastwood Park reveal how fragmented healthcare systems and unqualified staff such as Kelly Smith of Practice Plus Group and Harriet Tizzard of CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, create life threatening delays. These failures are not isolated, they are systemic, built into the way prison healthcare operates.
Nicole Farhi: Art as Resistance
Renowned designer and sculptor Nicole Farhi contributes a powerful feature on her exhibition J’Accuse, which confronts wrongful accusation and miscarriage of justice. Nicole’s work embodies creative destruction, using art to dismantle oppressive narratives and rebuild spaces
of truth. She also introduces her forthcoming series The Children of Gaza, extending her commitment to justice and human rights beyond prison walls.
Lily Allen: Feminism and Creative Voice
Issue 16 also highlights Lily Allen’s West End Girl, tracing its development and impact on her feminist voice. Lily’s work demonstrates how creativity can challenge patriarchal structures, amplify women’s experiences, and inspire reform. Her contribution underscores the radical potential of art and performance to expose systemic failures and ignite cultural change.
Testimony from Inside
Exclusive reports from women in English prisons reveal the dire state of healthcare provision. Emma Smart’s testimony describes delays in scans and chemotherapy that put lives at risk. Other stories, show how women are chained during treatment, denied privacy, and subjected
to degrading conditions.
International Perspectives
Issue 16 situates these failures within a broader European context. A recently announced investigation of European women’s prisons by the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture will highlight similar issues. In this issue, The View celebrates women
refugees who have overcome extreme poverty, violence and discrimination, as well as Cate Blanchett’s recent recognition in an interview where she discusses her work with the UNHCR. Meanwhile, Rima Hassan, MEP, speaks to Joseph Abi Abboud of the Feminist Justice Coalition
about refugee rights, civil society mobilization, and political activism. From exile to Paris runways, Lara Dizeyee turns identity into fashion and quiet resistance.
A Call for Reform
From Nour Norris’s work on Raneem’s Law to Farah Damji’s analysis of sentencing practices, Issue 16 amplifies voices demanding accountability and systemic change
About The View Magazine
Founded by and for women affected by the criminal justice system, The View is an independent feminist publication documenting injustice, supporting reform, and centring lived experience. Through print and audio platforms, it connects voices inside and outside prison settings.
