Cape Declaration on Decriminalising Poverty and Status

The participants of the convening of the Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status, held in Stellenbosch, South Africa between 27 and 29 September 2022 gathered to discuss strategies to address the criminalisation of poverty, status and activism around the world and its impact on the poor and most marginalised. This convening brought together 113 participants from 28 countries who are advocates, activists and experts from international, regional, and national non-governmental organisations, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), legal aid organisations, bar associations, the judiciary, and academia. 

The Cape Declaration on Decriminalising Poverty and Status was adopted by consensus by participants, with the request that it be publicised to all relevant stakeholders, and forwarded to national governments, inter-governmental bodies, and regional human rights mechanisms. You can find a summary version here.

Year: 2023
Resource Type:
Guidelines
Flagship
Themes:
Alternatives to Criminalisation
Cost of Exclusion
Courts Systems
Fees and Fines
Human Rights
Petty Offences
Policing
#PoorNotGuilty
Public Health
Pre-trial Detention
Prisons
Protests
Torture
Use of Public Spaces
Region:
Global
Africa
Australia & the Pacific Islands
Asia
Europe
Latin America & the Caribbean
Middle East
North America
People Groups:
Children & Young People
People in Detention
People with Disabilities
People who use Drugs
Elderly People
People experiencing Homelessness or live in informal settlements
Informal Workers
LGBTQIA+ persons
People affected by Displacement (including migrants and refugees)
People experiencing Poverty
Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
Sex Workers
Women and Girls
Duty Bearers
Approach:
Advocacy
Law Reform
Policy Reform