AdvocAid, L.A.W.Y.E.R.S., I.LR.A.J., A Girl At A Time, Amnesty International, and Girlz Empowered are concerned about the recent arrest of Zainab Sheriff who was arrested and detained for a video she posted online expressing her frustration with the current government. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right recognized and protected in Chapter 3 of the Constitution of...

One of the Sultan of Malaysia’s purchased a painting depicting parliamentarians as apes and frogs, a commentary on floor crossing, with no consequence (top image). In contrast, political cartoonists have been charged with sedition and arrested numerous for publishing drawings critical of the state (bottom image). 

IDPC: History was made this week at the UN. The Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted the most ambitious and progressive resolution on drug policy to date, titled ‘Contribution of the Human Rights Council with regard to the human rights implications of drug policy’. While the environment at the Commission on Narcotic...

The Human Rights Clinic and Program at the University of Miami School of Law, in collaboration with the Human Rights Society, the Office of Intellectual Life, the Environmental Law Program, and the International and Comparative Law Review at the University of Miami School of Law, the National Right to Food...

From Amnesty International: Responding to the opening today of the trial of journalist Hanane Bakour who faces up to three years in prison and a fine after being accused of “publishing fake news by using electronic means that harm private life” for a Facebook post where she criticized the holding of...

From SALC: Daniel Digashu, one-half of one of the two couples fighting for the right to be recognised by the Namibian state, writes about how they found community in their historic journey to the Supreme Court. The queer people of Namibia (young and not) are fighting not only for their rights but...

No fewer than 41 health Civil Society Organisations have called on the Nigerian Federal Government to end the criminalisation of suicide in the country. The Punch reports that section 327 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004 states that “any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanor...

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is seeking to decriminalize suicide attempts, its law minister said on Tuesday, the latest in a recent slew of legal reforms pursued by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government. The announcement comes a day after Malaysia’s parliament on Monday voted to remove the mandatory death penalty, trim the...

The measure passed Tuesday April 4, 2023, also creates vending zones, waives unpaid civil citations and streamlines the licensing process. It requires the mayor’s signature and congressional review before it becomes law. Watch the full video: DC Council votes unanimously to decriminalize street vending

Through this call, the Support. Don’t Punish campaign aims to identify and support local partners (up to 7) with funding of between USD 4,000 – 5,000 for strategic, creative and collaborative projects to be carried out from June to December 2023, and launched on the occasion of the 2023 Support. Don’t Punish...

From IDPC: Twenty-one countries in the [Asia Pacific] region operate either state-run compulsory detention and rehabilitation facilities for people who use drugs or similar facilities. These are a form of confinement where those accused of, or known to be using drugs, are involuntarily admitted for detoxification and “treatment”, often without...

From Fines & Fees Justice Center: SANTA FE, NM – Last night, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB 139, which eliminates the post-adjudication and bench warrant fees that have recently become the subject of a national movement to end the criminalization of poverty. The new law, sponsored by Representative Micaela Lara Cadena...

(30 March 2023) The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, have in a letter to the French Government expressed their concern about a draft law increasing penalties for unlawfully occupying housing...

Fair Trials: Police forces and criminal justice authorities across Europe are using data, algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to ‘predict’  if certain people are at ‘risk’ of committing crime or likely to commit crimes in future, and whether and where crime will occur in certain areas in future. Fair Trials...

From Fair Trials: The Dutch police continue to disregard the rule of law to criminalise the pacifist activist Frank van der Linde. In recent years, his personal data has been sent to Europol, he has been labelled a terrorist, and police have suggested he be referred to a psychiatric facility....

From ICJ-K: On 27 March 2023, the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJKenya) continued to monitor and document the activities that unfolded during the Monday Protests. The Protests were the second in the series of protests the Azimio La Umoja Coalition called for. As a body of...

SALC, CHREAA and FSWA call upon the Malawi Police Services and Government to consider police actions from the point of view of those most affected by them. We ask formal complaints bodies, including the Independent Complaints Commission to take equitable actions to create an inclusive enabling environment by looking into...

From Amnesty International: During the debate in the Parliament, MPs passed to impose life imprisonment punishment for same sex conduct, and 10 years for attempted same sex conduct. The MPs also passed a death penalty for aggravated homosexuality. It also criminalizes the “promotion” of homosexuality, a provision that encourages homophobia....

From ACJR & Reformar: It was reported from Guinea Bissau on 20 March 2023 that a new law will prohibit Islamic leaders using children for begging. The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló ordered that from Monday, 27 March 2023, child mendicity will be prohibited and that fathers or Koranic teachers...

Partners ACJR, Lawyers Alert, CHREAA, LHR and ICJ-K hereby cordially invite you to the first of a series of webinars on sub-national governance and the criminalisation of poverty and status, on the 4th of April 2023 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am (SAST). Register here Overview Sub-national governments exist below...

The Pretoria University Law Press releases landmark publication of African Union Human Rights Bodies: African Human Rights Yearbook and launches call for contributions to 2023 Yearbook. The first volume of the Yearbook appeared in 2017. In six years, the Yearbook has published a total of 125 articles, thus contributing to the democratisation of...

Amnesty International: On 22 March 2023, Amnesty International submitted a third-party intervention to the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the case of Advocaid Limited (Applicants) v The Republic of Sierra Leone (Respondent) involving alleged widespread human rights violations stemming from the...

From WIEGO: Waste pickers have won several legal actions in Latin America over the past two decades. This edition of Law & Informality Insights – Defending Waste Pickers’ Livelihoods: Lessons from Litigation in Latin America – reflects on how this was achieved, using three examples that illustrate the types of claims and...

Partner Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) supports Tshepo Junior Sethibe through Obonye Attorneys, represented by Dr Jonas Obonye, who are challenging Section 59(1) of the Botswana Penal Code. The provision in the penal code is phrased in vague and broad terms to the effect of curtailing freedom of expression. It further places...

Nyahururu — The State Department for Correctional Services will start engaging petty offenders in tree planting exercises under Community Service Orders (CSO) in a bid to decongest prison facilities. Speaking during the launch of 10 million tree planting campaign at Marmanet Forest, PS Mary Muthoni said the department is collaborating...

From Clooney's Foundation for Justice: "For too long, the law has served as a tool of oppression against women and girls, who continue to face inequality throughout the world. When so-called justice systems permit child marriage but punish pregnant students, girls cannot access the education they deserve. When governments criminalize...

From partner Fines & Fees Justice Center: With clear bipartisan support, the New Mexico Senate approved legislation to eliminate the post-adjudication and bench warrant fees that have recently become the subject of a national movement to end the criminalization of poverty. It will now go to the Governor’s desk for...

Partner Invisible People gives an overview of how homelessness is years in the making: Homelessness is an event that can happen suddenly. One minute a person is housed. The next minute they are not. While this is true on an individual level, when we zoom out just a bit and...

Upcoming online webinar on "Promoting Health and Rights: Prioritising People in Detention in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond" will be held Wednesday 8 March 2023 at 15.00 GMT. This webinar will be an opportunity to share Harm Reduction International's latest report and hear from Precious Matsoso, chair of the INB for...

CAPMHK: Globally several attempts to deinstitutionalize mental health and promote self-autonomy, independent and communal living for persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities have happened. CAPMHK has been advocating repeals of laws that criminalize mental health enshrined in the penal code, suicide act, and narcotics drugs act these laws have contributed...

Last week the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London held a seminar at Marlborough House on the Decriminalisation of Poverty and Status in the Commonwealth. The Seminar, held on 14 February 2023, as part of the flagship Rule of Law Conversation Series, promoted the Commonwealth Equal Access...

Sonke Gender Justice: As we approach the deadline to comment on the draft Criminal Law (Sexual Offences And Related Matters) Amendment Bill, which will see the buying and selling of sex decriminalised in South Africa, diverse opinions about sex work are appearing in the public space.  Read full article: Busting eight...

In the WCBU article 'Is poverty criminalized in Peoria? A lawyer provides her take', Alexus McNally, a researcher from campaign partner, The International Legal Foundation, speaks about the work of the Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status. “So, what the campaign seeks to address are issues where individuals are arrested,...

South Africa is poised to become the first African country to decriminalise sex work following the publication of an amendment to the country’s criminal law for public comment. South Africa’s Cabinet has approved the publication of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill, which proposes the decriminalising the...

One of the key outcomes of the Stellenbosch Convening, was the adoption by consensus of the Cape Declaration by participants of the Campaign's Annual Convening in Stellenbosch, South Africa in September 2022. Capturing much of the key issues and recommendations from the Convening, the Cape Declaration has already begun to...

Today, five justices of the Constitutional Court of Uganda (Frederick Egonda-Ntende, Elizabeth Musoke, Christopher Madrama Izama, Monica K Mugenyi, and Christopher Gashirabake JJCC) in a unanimous decision, declared as unconstitutional and therefore null and void sections 168(1)(c) and 168(1)(d) of the Penal Code Act Cap 120. These provisions are parts...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/rKNgujOpr-g South Africa's Deputy Minister of Justice, Hon John Jeffery talks to SABC News in South Africa about criminal law and incarceration on the African continent, and more specifically South Africa. He advocates for the decriminalisation of petty offences as a means to reduce the burden on the prison systems,...

On the 19 November 2022, francophone partners hosted a side-event, ‘Decriminalisation of poverty, status and activism: what role for the OIF?’, at the 18th Summit of the Organisation de la Francophonie (OIF) in Djerba, Tunisia, launching a series of campaign advocacy actions targeting the OIF. With 88 member countries and...

Campaign partner APCOF submits a statement on behalf of the Campaign, to the EU-AU Consultation with Civil Society. The statement calls on the EU-AU dialogue to include consideration of the measures that can be taken by AU organs to promote implementation of the Principles on the Decriminalisation of Petty Offences,...

APCOF submitted the below statement on behalf of the Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status, in response to the report of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa, at the 73rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. APCOF statement -...

At the 73rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Louise Edwards, Director of Research and Programmes at APCOF gave the following reflections on the action items from the African Commission's 'Sensitisation Webinar on the Vulnerable Situation of Women in Prison' held in November 2021. APCOF-ACHPR-Presentation-on-Women-in-Places-of-DetentionDownload

Article from Malawi Nation, Wed Nov 18, 2021: Last week, the Malawian High Court declared the police’s indiscriminate sweeping exercises unlawful and in violation of various constitutional rights and international human rights standards. Mass arrest practices, carried out under the guise of crime prevention, referred to are prevalent throughout Africa...

On 16 November 2022, the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group examined South Africa's human rights record for the fourth time. This review comes at an appropriate time in South Africa as it is currently in the midst of a human rights crisis which needs to...

Former Constitutional Court judge and current inspecting judge of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS), Edwin Cameron, was one of the speakers at the prison conditions exhibition hosted by the South African Litigation Centre. Cameron formally opened the exhibition and shared with the audience that during deliberations among the involved organisations...

On 27 and 28 October 2022 a large, multi-sectoral group of stakeholders from across Africa met in Johannesburg to consider urgent action to address cruel, inhuman, and degrading conditions that are endemic in places of detention. Immediate action is required to meet the minimum standards in line with our domestic...

On 28 September, as part of its 51st session, the UN Human Rights Council held a panel discussion on the negative impact of colonial legacies on human rights. Tríona Lenihan from Penal Reform International delivered a joint statement on behalf of six organisations including campaign members (Penal Reform International, Amnesty...

Premium Times Nigeria run a special report entitled 'Criminalisation of petty offences in Nigeria violates the poor' which heavily features campaign engagement with both the ACHPR and the Nigerian criminal justice institutions and campaign partners, such as Lawyers Alert and PRAWA on Premium Times Nigeria. The article by Kunle Sunni...