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 has worked in South Asia since the mid-1990s. Since 2012, we have focused primarily on Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, but we also seek to influence criminal justice good practice and standards within the whole region. We currently focus on promoting:

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

We provide 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.