In a nation-leading reform, those convicted of homosexuality and cross-dressing crimes in the island state can receive up to $75,000 in redress.
Articles on Decriminalisation
Displaying 1 - 20 of 23 articles
New Zealand decriminalised sex work in 2003. But according to new research, it risks falling behind other countries unless lingering difficulties for sex workers are addressed.
The threat of legal sanctions or imprisonment for a suicide survivor can have serious negative repercussions.
Lowering Indigenous incarceration rates is a key aim of the Closing The Gap targets, but there are more First Nations people behind bars than ever. How did this happen and what can fix it?
A backlash against progress in gender and sexual rights is common.
Regulating the sex work industry is the only way to protect sex workers from abuse and violence.
Criminalising suicide directs resources towards punishment which has no significant deterrent effect.
A major review on sex work laws has just been handed to the Victorian government.
The UN warns sex workers face increased discrimination under COVID-19. In Australia, they have been an ‘afterthought’ in the country’s pandemic response.
At present South Africa is simply placing a potentially dangerous market into the hands of criminal syndicates and international traffickers.
Angola’s new President João Lourenço has shown some willingness to engage in more inclusive politics.
The legalisation of the private use of cannabis in South Africa is a victory for human rights. But, much more work needs to be done to make it practical.
The Constitutional Court judgment is to be applauded for doing away with the assumption that marijuana use by adults in private is always wrong.
The study shows the negative effects of sex work’s criminalisation, including a reluctance of workers to go to police and clients using it as an excuse to abuse workers.
If South Africa’s argument in court is that marijuana causes harm, it deserves to lose. The real question it should ask is whether criminal prohibition is the effective way forward.
Portugal won the war on drugs by giving up. What lessons can South Africa learn from their approach?
Most of our drugs policies have failed to curb use or reduce their impact on individuals or society. It’s time for a more enlightened and informed approach.
The UK may have signed the UN drugs convention – with its emphasis on prohibition – but that doesn’t mean it can’t legalise the drug.
Some of the greatest harms from using illicit drugs are because they are illegal.
Is the status quo really that bad? Our expert talks us through the arguments about the ‘oldest profession’.
Top contributors
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Professor & Specialist in Drug Policy, UNSW
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Senior researcher, University of Cape Town
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Research Associate, King's College London
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Professor in Criminology, Loughborough University
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Professor of International Human Rights Law, Centre for Human Rights, and acting SARChI Chair in International Constitutional Law, University of Pretoria
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Head of Urban Futures Centre, Durban University of Technology
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Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Teesside University
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Professor and Program Head, Kirby Institute, UNSW
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Researcher, Curtin University
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Honorary Fellow, Department of Health Sciences, University of York
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Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health, Curtin University
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Professor of Human Rights Law, Monash University
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Associate Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland
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Research fellow, Curtin University
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Professor in Inclusive Education, Hague University of Applied Sciences