Flaws in Laws: Challenging Criminalization of Young People’s Bodily Autonomy

In 2019, CREA in partnership with Aahung (Pakistan), ARROW (Malaysia), Bandhu (Bangladesh), Hidden Pockets Collective (India), Youth Advocacy Network (Sri Lanka), The YP Foundation (India), and YUWA (Nepal) delved deeper into the impact of criminalizing young people’s sexuality on their access to human rights through the ‘#FlawsInLaws: Rethink my freedoms, Reimagine my rights, Realize my future’ campaign.

This campaign, focused on South Asia, highlighted the link between protectionist and punitive policies and practices, and their negative impact on young people’s sexuality and rights. The collaborative group explored the programmatic implications of this shift in understanding for their ongoing work. More information about the campaign can be found here.

The ‘Challenging Criminalization of Young People’s Bodily Autonomy’ Primer and Sourcebook emerged from the insights gained during the campaign, along with discussions and consultations involving CREA and its partners.

The Primer lays down foundational concepts and assertions crucial in unpacking criminalization and the impact of criminalization of bodily autonomy on young people in South Asia through a feminist lens.

For an in-depth comprehensive guide to this theme with country-specific examples, we recommend the Sourcebook on Flaws in Laws: Challenging Criminalization of Young People’s Bodily Autonomy.

These resources are intended to stimulate critical thinking about protectionist approaches to young people’s bodily autonomy. Our goal is to collectively progress toward affirming, non-punitive approaches that respect and safeguard young people’s health and rights, thereby enhancing their well-being and empowering them to rethink their lives.