Police Reforms : South Asia

Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka make up Commonwealth South Asia. Policing in this particular region contends with diverse societies, violent crime, protracted conflict, poverty, and political unrest.

Police Reform

CHRI's police reforms programme aims to realise increased demand for rights-based police reform and the strengthening of police accountability in the Commonwealth.

Strategic Initiatives : Strategic Litigation

We pursue the issues of dismal prison oversight and unnecessary, prolonged and wrongful detention of prisoners before the judiciary to ensure that laws are interpreted and enforced properly.

Prison Visiting System

As long back as 1894, the government accepted by way of Section 59(25) in the Prison Act that a system of visitors both from civil society and government in prisons would be of value to the management and monitoring of prisons. Thus, making it mandatory to have a prison visiting system at place.

Prison Reform

Positioned at the very end of the criminal justice system, prisons and prisoners get minimal attention. Intended to keep the convicted away from society, prisons are often places of injustice with little possibility of rehabilitation.

Fact finding missions

When faced with human rights emergencies or serious human rights situations in Commonwealth countries, CHRI organises fact finding missions to gather first hand information and evidence to put before Commonwealth bodies and the international community.

Human Rights Defenders

Human Rights Defenders, put simply, are anyone who is involved with or who actively promotes the tenets of human rights. They can be front-line defenders, to humanitarian workers and activists and even to people who write blogs or light a candle in solidarity.

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Rights

CHRI campaigns against policies and practices, which stigmatise and marginalise the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. It argues for the repeal of laws that penalise same-sex sexual conduct between consenting adults.

National Human Rights Institutions

There are now over 30 National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the Commonwealth. CHRI, advocates for the establishment of Paris Principles compliant NHRIs in all countries of the Commonwealth, and works to strengthen partnerships between NHRIs and civil society organisations.

Observing the Commonwealth at the UN Human Rights Council

CHRI has been working with the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) since it was established in 2006.