Sindh Commission Urges Overhaul of Juvenile and Women’s Prisons

The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has called for urgent reforms to transform juvenile and women’s prisons into rehabilitative hubs, as emphasised during a 12 July 2025 visit to correctional facilities in Hyderabad. SHRC Chairman Iqbal Ahmed Detho stressed the need for rights-based coordination to ensure these institutions prioritise rehabilitation over punishment, addressing systemic gaps in Pakistan’s prison system. With approximately 385 juvenile offenders across Sindh, the push aims to protect vulnerable inmates and reduce recidivism.

During his visit to the Youthful Offenders Industrial School (YOIS) and Hyderabad Women’s Prison, Detho met 47 juvenile inmates—many reportedly under the age of 15—and 83 women, who appealed for legal aid and improved conditions. “These facilities must nurture hope, not despair,” he told the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), while advocating for vocational training, education, and access to recreational programmes including arts and sports. He noted that under the Juvenile Justice System Act (JJSA) 2018, juveniles charged with bailable offences are legally eligible for release at the police station level—yet access to legal representation remains critically limited. The SHRC collected applications for bail, prison transfers, and conviction reviews, highlighting persistent barriers to justice.

Sindh’s juvenile detention system includes only one fully functional remand home, in violation of the rehabilitative framework mandated by both the JJSA 2018 and Sindh Remand Home Rules 2011. According to a 2023 Dawn investigation, the lack of remand infrastructure hampers compliance with national and provincial laws. Detho also urged prison authorities to collaborate with the Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) to improve post-release reintegration. At the women’s facility, he called for antenatal care for three pregnant inmates and assistance for an elderly woman held under reportedly poor conditions. “Prisons should be places of recovery, not detention,” he reiterated, according to APP.

While prison reform is a provincial mandate, critics have pointed to limited federal coordination on national prison policy. Some human rights organisations argue that the federal government has not done enough to support provinces in implementing juvenile justice reforms. Karachi’s Youthful Offenders Industrial School alone houses 338 juveniles, according to the 2023 Sindh Prisons and Corrections Service report—raising serious concerns about overcrowding and under-resourced rehabilitation programs.

The SHRC’s renewed call for model juvenile and women’s facilities highlights the urgent need for structural reform. Without robust oversight and sustained investment, efforts to uphold the dignity and rights of incarcerated children and women may fall short. As the monsoon season further strains prison infrastructure, the clock is ticking for meaningful action.