While there have been improvements in recent years, criminal justice policy in Central Asia remains punitive.
Large prison populations, a result of the overuse of pre-trial detention and custodial sanctions, have led to overcrowding and poor conditions. The absence of separate juvenile justice systems, lack of measures to support the reintegration of offenders back into the community and the Soviet tradition of camp-style prisons remain persistent problems. Violence in prison and torture and ill-treatment of prisoners is not uncommon.
PRI has been working in the Central Asia region since 2001. Our office in Astana, Kazakhstan, currently manages programmes in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and maintains links with partners in Uzbekistan.
Current work focuses on legislative reform in Kazakhstan, torture prevention, particularly on improving independent public oversight of places of detention, and supporting the reintegration of prisoners into society.
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Women’s Power Breakfast highlights need for gender sensitivity and equality in justice systems
The event, which took place at the OSCE's Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, was co-organised by PRI, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Blog post
PRI’s approach: as needed as ever
Florian Irminger, PRI's new Executive Director, reflects upon how the organisation’s practical approach to penal reform is as relevant as ever.
13th September 2018
News
ODIHR and PRI publish new resource on Nelson Mandela Rules
The new tool provides guidance for implementing the revised UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.