2019
In 2019 we celebrated our 30th anniversary and launched a new four year strategy 2020-2023.
In Central African Republic we were instrumental in the development and adoption of the National Demilitarisation Strategy of the Penitentiary System in Central African Republic which seeks reform of the country’s prison system and full civilian management.
In Georgia, we reactivated a network of civil society organisations called the Alliance for Penal and Probation Reforms in Georgia to coordinate policy and advocacy responses to government planned reforms of the criminal justice system.
In Uganda we launched the Practice Guide for defense lawyers representing individuals facing the death penalty as well as a research study on the application of international fair trial standards in death penalty cases ;
We gained high-level support from the Assistant Secretary General and UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights level on the use of life imprisonment. Our advocacy led to the inclusion of commentary on life sentences in the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on death and serious injury of persons deprived of liberty. Subsequently, due to traction gained with Austria, who led on the UN Human Rights Council resolution on administration of justice, we were able to link overincarceration and prison overcrowding with life imprisonment sentences and issue recommendations.