Sindh Human Rights Commission Pushes for Women and Children in Correctional Centres

The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has called for women and child inmates to be housed in dedicated correctional centres, emphasizing rehabilitation over detention. During a July 2025 visit to Hyderabad’s facilities, Chairperson Iqbal Ahmed Detho urged civil society to ensure timely legal aid and humane conditions for these vulnerable groups. This article explores the SHRC’s advocacy, the state of Sindh’s correctional facilities, and the broader push for reform.

On July 12, 2025, Detho inspected the Youthful Offenders Industrial School (YOIS) and Women’s Prison in Hyderabad, highlighting their role as model facilities for reform and reintegration, as reported by Dawn. He stressed that correctional centres should prioritize care, education, and recovery, stating, “Rehabilitation of women and children is the sole purpose of these facilities.” The SHRC met with 47 juvenile inmates, addressing their requests for legal aid and better living conditions. Detho directed authorities to expedite legal support for eligible juveniles and improve coordination to uphold rights guaranteed by Pakistan’s Constitution and the Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act 2011.

The SHRC’s push aligns with the Sindh Prisons and Corrections Service Act 2019, which emphasizes rehabilitative programs for inmates. Hyderabad’s facilities offer vocational training, but gaps remain, with only one functional remand home in Sindh for 385 juvenile offenders, per 2023 data from the Sindh Prisons and Corrections Service (SPCS). The Sindh Remand Homes Rules 2011 mandate proper accommodations, yet many children languish in adult prisons, a concern Detho reiterated. Civil society groups like the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) echoed this, advocating for expanded remand homes to align with the Juvenile Justice System Act (JJSA) 2018.

This initiative underscores a broader need for systemic reform. While Sindh’s efforts to provide schooling and skills training for inmates’ children are commendable, limited resources and bureaucratic inefficiencies hinder progress. The SHRC’s call for accountability and investment in correctional infrastructure reflects a commitment to dignity and opportunity, ensuring women and children in custody are not forgotten but empowered for a better future.