South Asia

Criminal justice and penal reform in the South Asia region faces a number of challenges.

Problems include: prison overcrowding, lack of alternatives to imprisonment, little training for criminal justice officials and lack of specialised systems and measures for vulnerable groups, including women and child detainees.

PRI worked in South Asia from the mid-1990s until 2016. From 2012, we focused primarily on Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, but we also sought to influence criminal justice good practice and standards within the whole region. We focused on promoting:

• Alternatives to imprisonment
• Juvenile justice reform
• Improving conditions for women and girls in the criminal justice system

We provided training, resources, guidance, technical assistance and advocacy support on international criminal justice standards and best practice in these areas.

Read an overview of PRI’s work in South Asia.