Police Reforms: International
Police Reforms: Too Important to Neglect, Too Urgent to Delay

South Asia

Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka make up Commonwealth South Asia. Across the region, issues around policing and importantly police reform are key human rights concerns, as well as governance priorities. Policing in this particular region contends with heterogeneous societies, violent crime, protracted conflict, poverty, and political unrest. The police must be equipped to meet these myriad challenges in support of democratic norms and human rights.

Unfortunately, the post-independence histories of the countries of South Asia paint a grim picture of the state of policing. The British colonial government, with the sole intention to keep its subjects under control, introduced the formal, state-administered system of policing to the region. The beginnings of policing in the region were based purely on the compulsions of imperialism. Alarmingly, across the region, neither the advent of independence or democracy has changed the policing model. Towards their own ends and most importantly to maintain rule, post independent governments have retained archaic policing laws that perpetuate the ills of colonial policing. Illegitimate political interference in policing is endemic across the region and has shaped subservient, partisan, and unaccountable policing in South Asia. By controlling powers to transfer, promote or punish police officers, ruling regimes ensure that officers toe their line. Undeniably, police in the region are entirely dwarfed and most often controlled by the executive.

All of the countries of Commonwealth South Asia have initiated efforts toward police reform, some led by international donor agencies and others by national governments. In this way, the region offers varied examples of policing problems as well as insights into police reform. But it is very much a case of two steps forward, and another step back, as good laws are repealed, or important accountability mechanisms diluted or rendered ineffective in implementation. Political resistance continues to strangle policing.

Aim

The aim of CHRI's programme in South Asia is to develop an increased demand for and achievement of police accountability and reform.

Activities

In March 2007, CHRI convened a regional roundtable conference on South Asian policing in New Delhi, India. Fifty representatives attended the conference from countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Delegates hailed from across government, civil society, media, human rights institutions and police organizations and met to discuss and debate the trends, commonalities and challenges of policing in South Asia. Click here for more information and background documentation relating to the roundtable.

Publications

Click here to download an electronic copy of CHRI's report on police accountability in South Asia, Feudal Forces: Democratic Nations. Click here to request a hardcopy of the report.

Current events

To read about the state of emergency declared in Pakistan on 3 November 2007, the police response, the human rights implications and Pakistan's suspension from the Commonwealth, click here.

Media statements and Updates

CHRI Update on Sri Lanka - 1 November 2007.

Spotlight thrown on policing in South Asia - Friday 23 March 2007.

Laws and standards

National laws are available here.

Contact

For more information on CHRI’s policing work in South Asia, contact Sanjay Patil .