Sarita, 19, at her home in Newarpani, Nepal.
She was accused of having drugs in her home. She spent a few weeks in detention while pregnant before being released. Her husband is currently in jail for the same charge.
Poverty and patriarchal practices (also reinforced by the legal system) leave Nepalese women with few good options when they come in contact with the criminal justice system. Women face systematic discrimination, particularly in rural areas and are especially vulnerable to coercion and abuse.
In August 2018, a new provision of the Criminal Procedure Code was signed into law. It specifies that the government will appoint counsel only for accused persons facing more than 10 years imprisonment.
This leaves the vast majority of poor accused of petty crimes ineligible for government legal aid services and counting on The International Legal Foundation (The ILF) for quality representation.
Sabina,28, at her home in Tokha, Nepal.
Falsly accused of stealing money, she was detained along with her baby Himansu (2 months old at the time), for 25 days before being acquitted from district court and high court.
Himansu sleeping on Sabina's bed.
Sunita, transgender woman, at her home in Kathmandu with her 2 sons.
Sunita has come in contact with the law repeatedly. She has been arrested on charges of prostitution and disturbing the peace.
Despite recognizing the Third Gender identity, transgender people in Nepal suffer hight rates of harassment, economic vulnerability and gender-based violence.
Lalitpur District Court.
Public Defender Lawyers meeting with a mother whose child was charged with larson. Minutes before a witness examination, the mother had questions and was unable to afford a lawyer.
Kathmandu's Supreme Court (Appeal).