At this juncture, reforms in women’s rights demonstrate that the kingdom is en route to modernizing. However, some of the actions of Saudi authorities — such as the arrest of prominent women's rights activists — are seemingly at odds with the image the reforms want to project.
"People really had compassion, affection, understanding and patience — something that you don't get in regular court." That's how one Indigenous woman describes her day in First Nations Court.
But drug policy liberalizers are convinced that in coming years, the drug war will recede and a more merciful approach will take its place.
"Why is this kid in here?" one man says of the girl he adopted, who lived with her mom in prison until several years ago.
Cheyenne Sharma admitted transporting more than 4 pounds of cocaine into Canada. But her lawyers put the country's colonial history on trial.
The number of women going to jail in Mexico is on the rise. Many are single moms trying to support their families.
Our series takes a global look at the problem: why women are ending up in prison, what it's like for them inside and how activists are fighting to keep people out.
"We cannot arrest our way out of the problem," some advocates say.