This first South Asian Convening on Decriminalising Poverty and Status brought together organisations and activists engaged in national and regional efforts to decriminalise poverty, status and/or activism in their respective communities. Discussions over two days saw participants reframing narratives regarding criminalisation and the criminal justice system while understanding common challenges and sharing strategies to address them.

The convening was held in Sri Lanka on 24-25 January 2025, jointly organised by the NTT and the International Legal Foundation (ILF). NTT and ILF are members of The Global Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status – a coalition of organisations advocating for the repeal of laws and reform of policies and practices that target people based on poverty, status or for their activism.

Themes that emerged during the discussion include the ways in which the existing legal system fails to protect vulnerable groups, and the role states play in this by weaponising the criminal justice system to restrict the rights of its citizens. The complicity of society, including civil society organisations (CSOs), in this through their failure to critically engage with the system and hold it accountable was highlighted.

These discussions led to sharing successful counterstrategies and good practices, including areas for potential collaboration to decriminalise survival behaviours and protect marginalised and oppressed communities in the region.

Access the full rapporteur report: Decriminalising Poverty and Status event report.pdf