Updates Archives
Zimbabwe: President’s signing of ‘Patriotic Bill’ a brutal assault on civic space
Amnesty International: Responding to the news that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Amendment Bill, 2022, commonly referred
Campaign members co-sign open letter demanding women rights forums to include criminalised women
An Open Letter to the organisers of Women Deliver and the Generation Equality Forum calling for all High-Level Forums on women’s rights to be inclusive of all women, particularly criminalised, incarcerated
France: Nahel shooting highlights need for overhaul of police firearms rules and an end to systemic racism in law enforcement
Amnesty International: Following the banning of a number of demonstrations protesting police violence after the unlawful killing of 17-year-old Nahel M by a police officer,
Why do cities respond to homelessness with criminalization?
Invisible People: A new report shows why cities often respond to homelessness with criminalization and punitive punishments. Developed by Community Solutions, a nonprofit housing advocacy
Uganda repeals Vagrancy, Sedition and False News Offences
Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) notes that the Uganda Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023, has repealed some of the rogue and vagabond, sedition, and
No need for debate, uphold the Court of Appeal decision on LGBTIQ+ rights in Botswana
SALC: Botswana’s Parliament intends to table a number of bills in the current session, one of which seeks to repeal section 164 of the Penal
Historic Swazi court judgment striking down parts of sedition and terrorism laws is under threat
The Eswatini Supreme Court has controversially reinstated the state’s appeal against a liberal landmark high court judgment passed in 2016. After a lapse of six
Zimbabwe’s recently passed law signals disturbing crackdown
Two months before presidential and parliamentary elections on 23 August, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges Zimbabwe to abandon a proposed “sovereignty and national interest” law that poses
The Right to Public Spaces and Informal Work: Key considerations for Law & Policy-Making
On 28 June 2023, ACJR in collaboration with Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) hosted a webinar on The Right to Public Spaces and Informal
‘Caught in the spiral’ series launched
Prison Insider: Incarceration is the response that States often impose on unwanted behaviours. In many countries, criminal law and prison are used to target those
Mental health conference pushes for the decriminalisation of suicide
Delegates at the recent Mental Health Conference in South Africa pushed for the decriminalisation of suicide. A media coverage from Kenya highlights the issues and
Poverty and detention: Are legal frameworks adequate?
PRI: Pre-trial detention contributes significantly to prison overcrowding and causes a range of harms to individuals, their familes, and society. But what is driving its use? In
Campaign member delivers statement at United Nations General Assembly High-Level Debate on Equal Access to Justice For All
At the UN General Assembly High-Level Debate on Equal Access to Justice For All on June 15th, 2023, Richard Arbeiter, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative
Advisory opinion of the Court requesting the abrogation of vagrancy laws
A majority of countries in Africa¹ have some type of “vagrancy laws”, meaning laws which consider people that are or are perceived to be poor, homeless
Case of an immigrant mistreated by the judicial and prison system in Tanzania
Mr X is a Congolese man who was living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In early June 2006, he lost his passport. He went to
Petty offences convicts face repercussions long after serving sentences
Some 20 years ago, Ibrahim Kingori Njoki was involved in a brawl. He was later convicted of creating a disturbance, contrary to Section 95(1) of
Innocent Nigerians languishing in prison for petty crimes
Hope Behind Bars Africa has said that most awaiting trail inmates in Nigeria have been languishing in our Custodial facilities for petty crimes like loitering
The Guardian view on abortion law: the case for decriminalisation
The outrage caused by the jailing of a mother for ending her pregnancy after the legal limit should spark a wider rethink of archaic legislation.
Campaign’s recommendations incorporated into adopted UN CCPCJ resolution on equal access to justice
On May 22-26, members of the Campaign attended the 32nd session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), which is the principal
Supreme Court of Eswatini unanimously finds Registrar’s decision on LGBTIQ+ organisation unconstitutional
SALC: Mbabane, Eswatini: 16 June 2023 – Today, a five-panel bench of the Supreme Court of Eswatini passed a judgement setting aside the decision by the
Lawyers live in fear as Swazi state intensifies crackdown on activists
The murder of prominent human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and the subsequent admission by the government that it hired ‘security experts’ to deal with pro-democracy
Indonesia: ICJ asks court to ensure that defamation and “false information” laws not be used to silence and criminalize human rights defenders
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), in an amicus curiae brief submitted today, has requested the East Jakarta District Court to give effect to Indonesia’s
How we got Uganda to strike out a colonial law criminalising poor people
The offence of being ‘rogue and vagabond’ saw people detained for how they looked. Now it’s gone, but there’s more to do. On 5 December,
Lilongwe informal traders challenge eviction and confiscation of goods
SALC & CHREAA: On 5 June 2023, the High Court of Malawi granted leave for judicial review to challenge the Lilongwe by-laws evicting informal traders
South Africa: ‘Tough Blow’ for Sex Workers As Decrim Bill Delayed
It’s clear we’re not going to achieve decrim in 2024″ say activist Parliament’s draft bill to decriminalise sex work is to be revised after the
Everyday policing is casteist
CJ-PAP: The systemic oppression of marginalised communities by the criminal justice system is poorly understood and rarely questioned. Here’s how this is changing. In 1871,
Black remand prisoners held 70% longer than white counterparts in England and Wales
Data also shows black defendants more likely to be held in prison – yet more likely to be acquitted Black defendants spend on average more
Rejecting the colonial legacy of discriminatory laws
States around the world should repeal discriminatory and archaic laws that reproduce historical inequalities and patterns of oppression. In 2018, Theresa May, then UK prime
Vagrancy Laws: Discrimination based on poverty and status
SALC: On 31 May 2023, 28 men were arrested in Harare CBD under the country’s vagrancy laws. These arrests raise the question of why vagrancy
AUC-NANHRI Policy Forum 2023
Addis Ababa, 18 May 2023: The African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) organized the AUC-NANHRI Policy
Defending Waste Pickers’ Livelihoods: Lessons from Litigation in Latin America
From WIEGO: Waste pickers have won several legal actions in Latin America over the past two decades. This edition of Law & Informality Insights – Defending
Challenging Criminal Code on Alarming Publications in Botswana
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
Kenyan Prisons Target 10 Million Trees in Decongestion Drive to See Petty Offenders Freed
Nyahururu — The State Department for Correctional Services will start engaging petty offenders in tree planting exercises under Community Service Orders (CSO) in a bid
Applications open for Waging Justice for Women Fellowships
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
New Mexico, US approves groundbreaking bill to end costly court fees in legal system
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
Sudden homelessness is Years in the Making
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
Promoting Health and Rights: Prioritising People in Detention in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
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
The nature and extent of institutionalisation of persons with disabilities in Africa: the Kenyan experience.
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
“We must decriminalise poverty to achieve equal access to justice”
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
Busting eight myths about sex work ahead of deadline for public comments on decriminalisation bill in South Africa
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
‘Is poverty criminalized in Peoria? A lawyer provides her take’ – Campaign in WCBU article
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,
South Africa invites for public comment on decriminalising of sex work
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
The Cape Declaration adopted by consensus
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
Ugandan Constitutional Court declares parts of the ‘Rogue and Vagabond’ Offence unconstitutional
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
South African Deputy Minister advocates for reform to ease prison overcrowding
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,
The Djerba Declaration launched at Summit de la Francophonie side-event
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
APCOF addresses EU-AU Dialogue on behalf of Campaign
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
Campaign submits statement at 73rd ACHPR session
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
Reflections on Women Prison Conditions – ACHPR
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
Malawian High Court outlaws sweeping arrests
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
Malawi High Court Declares Mass Arrests (Sweeping Exercises) Unconstitutional
Blantyre, 9 November 2022 – On 8 November 2022, the High Court of Malawi issued a judgment declaring the police’s indiscriminate practice of sweeping exercises
South African civil society issue statement ahead of UPR
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.
The crime of being poor – images of human rights violations in prisons aim to spark rethink of incarceration
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
Regional meeting on prison oversight mechanisms
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,
Exhibition: The Ties that Bind Us
On 27 October 2022, SALC co-hosted a photo exhibition entitled “The ties that bind us”. The exhibition looked at the conditions in detention accross Africa
PRI issues statements against criminalistion of women to UN working group
In October 2022, PRI responded to a call for input by the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, for its upcoming report
Campaign issues joint statement on colonial laws at the UN Human Rights Council
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
Special Report on Petty Offences covered in Nigerian media
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
Stellenbosch Conference closes with coalition’s draft Joint Declaration
From 27 to 29 September 2022, representatives from over 40 organisations from over 30 countries, gathered in Stellenbosch, South Africa, for the Campaign’s Annual Convening
Criminalization of Homelessness is Racially Discriminatory, Must be Abolished, Say UN Human Rights Experts
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND- The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva yesterday stated “it remains concerned at the increasing number of state and
Children caught using cannabis will no longer be criminally prosecuted
GroundUP reports: The Constitutional Court has ratified a High Court order declaring sections of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act as unconstitutional because it criminalises
Over 50 organisations to attend Annual Convening
From 27 to 29 September 2022, representatives from over 50 organisations from over 35 countries, will gather in Stellenbosch, South Africa, for the Campaign’s Annual
Understanding the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s Methods of Work
The short video provides an explanation on how the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s mechanism could play an important part on the advocacy work
Partners submit shadow report on racial injustice in the US
For the U.S. review by the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Miami Law Human Rights Clinic, National Homelessness Law Center, and
Economic right activity in check in Malawi
Due to economic challenges the country is sailing through, some people have resorted to doing business at a small-scale to earn a living. However, those
City of Cape Town to return belongings to homeless after agreement in court
City of Cape Town has been ordered by the Western Cape High Court in South Africa, to return the belongings of the homeless living around
‘Petty Offences, Major consequences’ : TelQuel special feature
Co-founder of Relais, Youssef Madad is interviewed in TelQuel Feature on ‘Petty Offences, Major Consequences’. In his interview, entitled ‘Neighbourhoods are the right grounds for
CAMPHK files as amicus to decriminalise suicide in Kenya
In Kenya attempted suicide as laid out by Section 226 of the Penal Code is a misdemeanor punishable by Two (2) Year’s imprisonment or a
Bid to overturn Sierra Leone loitering laws that activists claim ‘criminalise poverty’
The Guardian: Citing claims of violence and rape by police, lawyers and activists mount legal challenge to laws brought in under British rule A case
Poor traders in Jail
Campaign partner, Crime Check TV release a video that highlights the effect of dutybearers using vagrancy and loitering laws to target poor traders in Ghana.
“Justice for All” event kick-starts a year of action
Side event to the 31st Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Co-organised by Ghana, Mexico, South Africa, the United States, Campaign to
‘Decriminalising petty offences’ JoyNews Special
‘Decriminalizing Petty Offences’ special on JoyNews Online. Mina Mensah, Director, CHRI and Samuel Lardy Anyenini, Director of Programmes, IHRDA exchanged with the host of Joy News’ programme ‘The Law’
Campaign issues statement at 71st ACHPR Ordinary Session
As part of the civil society engagement at the 71st Ordinary Session of the ACHPR, the campaign issued the attached collective statement, via it’s campaign partner,
Court case filed against Sierra Leone to overturn discriminatory loitering laws
AdvocAid has filed a case at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria, against the Government of
“Counting the cost of exclusion” seminar – Highlights
Linking criminal law, political exclusion and socio-economic inequality On 24 March 2022, the Global Campaign to Decriminalize Poverty and Status hosted a virtual seminar
Online petition launched to decriminalise cannabis in Kenya
Campaign partner, CAPMHK has launched an online petition calling for the decriminalisation of cannabis for personal use in Kenya. In Kenya, when one is found guilty of possession of
ILF work in Nepal selected as a World Justice Challenge finalist
Campaign partner, The International Legal Foundation has been selected as a finalist for the World Justice Challenge for their work on decriminalising poverty in Nepal.
Why the courts alone can’t solve homelessness
An op-ed from APCOF describes how, despite a court order, the City of Cape Town was yet to return the seized possessions after evicting homeless
12 inmates regain freedom in innovative e-Court sittings
In response to congestion of custodial centers in Nigeria in the aftermath of the COVID 19 Pandemic, PRAWA with the support of OSIWA, piloted the
Quarterly Digest: July to Dec 2021
Missed out on the latest updates from our partners? You can read the complete quarterly digest here: Digest – July to Dec 2021
The Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status is a coalition of organisations from across the world that advocate for the repeal of laws that target people based on poverty, status or for their activism.
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