Today Lawyer and human rights advocate Nicolás Laino discusses how poverty, violence, and inequality contribute to women’s criminalization. He shares stories from his work as a public defender in Argentina, the importance of early, gender-sensitive legal aid, and how lawyers and policymakers can better support women behind bars. Nicolás also highlights global efforts to train legal professionals and include people with lived experience in shaping justice.

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in this episode, visit womenbeyondwalls.org/nicolas

Photo essay - women in prison in Argentina - drug offences: theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/07/argentina-drug-offences-women-jails-photo-essay

Grassroots Justice Network: grassrootsjusticenetwork.org

UN Legal Aid Principles and Guidelines:

penalreform.org/issues/pre-trial-justice/4716-2/legal-aid-principles-guidelines/

https://legalempowermentfund.org

The Woman in the Line movie:

imdb.com/title/tt27698095/

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Women are the fastest-growing prison population worldwide, often locked up for low-level drug offenses tied to poverty, coercion, or survival. In this minisode, Marie Nougier from the International Drug Policy Consortium talks about moving beyond punitive drug laws that harm women and what compassionate, evidence-based alternatives could look like.

Learn more about the International Drug Policy Consortium: idpc.net

10-point plan: Gender-sensitive drug policies for women (2021):

www.penalreform.org/resource/10-point-plan-gender-sensitive-drug-policies-for-women

“No One Believed Me”: A Global Overview of Women Facing the Death Penalty for Drug Offenses:

https://dpw.lawschool.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/No-One-Believed-Me-A-Global-Overview-of-Women-Facing-the-Death-Penalty-for-Drug-Offenses.pdf

IDCP: Justice is setting them free: Women, drug policies, and incarceration in Latin America:

​​https://idpc.net/publications/2023/11/justice-is-setting-them-free-women-drug-policies-and-incarceration-in-latin-america

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in this episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/marie

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Today, Rosma Karlina talks about her experiences with drug use and her time in prison, highlighting the harm caused by incarceration and forced rehabilitation programs. She also explains why health-focused, human-rights approaches like peer support, counselling, and community programmes are so important for women who use drugs.

Rosma is the director of SPINN, an Indonesian community group supporting women and trans women who use drugs. She is also part of the International Network of Formerly Incarcerated Women.

Learn more about the International Network of Formerly Incarcerated Women: theinfiw.com

To learn more about some of the issues touched upon in this episode, visit www.womenbeyondwalls.org/rosma

Follow Women Beyond Walls

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