A two-day convening on “Decriminalizing Poverty and Status” took place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on January 24-25, bringing together diverse voices from across South Asia to discuss the discrimination and marginalisation of social groups within and by the legal system. Under the umbrella of the Global Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status, the event, which was organised by the Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust and the International Legal Foundation, saw participation of representatives of organizations in Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, alongside Campaign members from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Uganda. The meeting provided a rare opportunity for South-South collaboration on this topic, in the hope that organizations from South Asia can begin to self-organize around the common issues of the criminalization of poverty, status and activism.

The convening focused on priorities within the South Asia region including petty offences, activism, drug use and marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, ethnic minorities, various castes and classes, informal workers, people experiencing homelessness, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Discussions over the two days were centered on a series of panels and Q&A which looked at:

• The Cost of Discrimination: Panellists explored the notion of criminalisation, the factors that drive it and the impact of  laws, policies, and practices that perpetuate discrimination against marginalized and vulnerable groups, hindering their access to basic rights and opportunities.
• Drug Use and Treatment: The focus was on moving beyond the criminalization of drug use and exploring alternative approaches rooted in public health and human rights.
• Legal Strategies: Discussions centered on the successes and challenges faced when using strategic litigation as one of several tools used to challenge discriminatory laws and ensure equitable access to justice for all.
• Beyond Litigation: Participants explored the importance of advocacy, awareness raising, and community mobilization in creating lasting social change.
• Using International Standards and Mechanisms: The panellists highlighted available mechanisms and potential impact of regional litigation and networking in driving reforms and upholding international human rights standards.
• Call to Action: The event concluded with a discussion of strategies for effective social mobilization and the creation of an enabling environment to foster decriminalization initiatives and collaboration among stakeholders.

The diverse group of participants included researchers, human rights advocates, community workers, prison officials, police, judiciary, lawyers, officials from institutions that provide alternatives to imprisonment, such as the probation department, paralegals, and media representatives, ensuring diverse perspectives and a complementary understanding of the complex issues at hand.

This South Asia Convening served as a crucial opportunity for sharing knowledge, strategies, and best practices, fostering regional collaboration, and galvanizing efforts to decriminalize poverty and status across the Global South.