Briefing Paper. Justice Is Setting Them Free: Women, Drugs Policies, And Incarceration In Latin America

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to reflect on almost ten years of collective research and joint advocacy by the working group, its achievements and disappointments, as well as challenges and opportunities for the future.

The first effort was the publication and dissemination of “Women, Drug Policy and Incarceration: A Guide for Policy Reform in Latin America and the Caribbean,” which provides a roadmap for reducing the incarceration of women. The working group later published additional research and reports, proposing sound and clear policy recommendations that were valuable inputs for advocacy. In nearly ten years of collective action, the working group has succeeded in placing this issue on the agenda of relevant UN and OAS bodies and in countries across the region, creating a propitious environment for carrying out reforms.