Colombian justice minister visits prison as nearly 100 women released

Colombia's justice minister visited a Bogota prison as at least 99 women jailed for drug-related crimes have been released since March 2023 under a public utility law, according to the government.

That year the leftist government of Gustavo Petro passed a law allowing female heads of household to receive sentence pardons in exchange for social services, as part of a push to "end the irrational war on drugs" promoted by the United States.

Justice Minister assures that "one of the most important projects" of Colombia is "to protect women heads of household," in a conference before dozens of detained women in El Buen Pastor Prison.