JPP’s success comes from its integrated methodology that includes investigating, identifying, and uncovering human rights violations in the area of death penalty, police torture, mental illness and juvenile justice. Leveraging these violations through public engagement strategies (op-eds, documentary films, digital content, art exhibitions et. al) and strategic litigation, we set precedents that bring Pakistan’s criminal justice system closer to protecting the rights of the most vulnerable prisoners, accused of the most serious crimes.

Through our public and policy advocacy, we educate government leaders and the public on how death penalty implementation violates moral principles and human rights standards. We constructively engage with the relevant government ministries, parliamentarians, media houses and civil society, using fact-based insights, to effect reform and develop the pressure required for government to further restrict the use of the law related to the death penalty.

Key achievements:

JPP’s evidence-based public and policy advocacy has largely influenced legal reform. Through the consistent uncovering and highlighting of police torture incidences, cases of wrongful convictions, the plight of overseas Pakistani prisoners and by raising the political cost of these human rights violations, JPP was able to influence the Government of Pakistan to do the following:

• The Ministry of Human Rights announced a policy review of the death penalty to reduce the number of capital offences,
• The inclusion of age determination protocols in the Juvenile Justice Systems Act 2018 that avoids juveniles from being tried as adults and sentenced to death,
• A court order directing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to draft a consular protection policy for Pakistanis detained abroad,
• Repatriation of Pakistanis imprisoned abroad: Saudi Arabia announced the release of 2,107 Pakistani prisoners while the UAE has pardoned 572 Pakistani prisoners in 2019