Between 2006 and 2011, the female prison population almost doubled in Latin America from 40,000 to more than 74,000 inmates. Most incarcerated women are accused of minor drug offenses, –75% -80% in Ecuador, 30 to 60% in Mexico, 64% in Costa Rica, 60% in Brazil and 70% in Argentina– linked to economic survival in contexts marked by abuse and violence.
The International Drug Policy Consortium has published a report [1] [es] written by Corina Giacomello addressing the context in which most women in the region become involved with drug trafficking networks.
The report also highlights that penalties for drug-related activities are disproportionate and suggests policies to find alternatives to imprisonment.
You can listen to an interview [2] [es] with Giacomello on Soundcloud [3] [es].