Women's Justice

Women's Justice

Reports of the violation of women’s fundamental rights through physical, mental, emotional, and sexual violence against women are commonplace in India. Violence against women has taken particularly acute forms in circumstances where populations are already marginalized, such as in areas affected by armed conflict, and areas undergoing mass displacement. Women in the Tribal belts and amongst Dalit populations are vulnerable, and become even more so in areas affected by conflict. There is therefore a pressing need for the judiciary to recognize and address the particular forms of violence levied against women who are ‘doubly marginalised’ by caste, class, religion, or in situations of conflict. A number of laws that protect women from discrimination are also either inadequate or have not been implemented properly. HRLN has been closely associated with the women’s movement for over two decades. The Women’s Justice Initiative (WJI) is its national network of lawyers and social activists, that uses the law to oppose all forms of gender-based discrimination and violence against women and to increase women’s access to the justice system as a vital means to their empowerment.

What HRLN Does

The framework of ‘women’s justice’ involves not only the prevention of specific forms of violence and discrimination against women, but also encompasses all other human rights, including the right to food and health, disability, housing labour rights; dalit/tribal/adivasi rights, environmental justice, criminal justice, etc. With this holistic vision of equality and gender justice, WJI works directly with poor and marginalized women as well as through legal education, advocacy and policy analysis to continue the struggle for women’s rights.

To achieve its objectives, the WJI adopts a multi-pronged strategy in dealing with various facets of women’s rights violations. The WJI engages in strategic litigation through PILs in High Courts and the Supreme Court for systematic changes as well as the implementation of policy and women’s rights laws. Through legal aid and counseling, it provides women with representation in cases of divorce, domestic violence, matrimonial remedies, guardianship, custody, adoption, property rights, sexual harassment, etc. The WJI is also active in opposing bail of the accused in cases of violence against women, particularly in cases of rape, dowry harassment, domestic violence, and acid-attacks. Lawyers working with the WJI provide legal counseling to women at various women’s crime cells, and to women prisoners. We provide legal expertise as member of several committees, including as members of several sexual harassment complaint committees across the country. The WJI also runs a number of helplines throughout the country that provide legal counseling as well as psycho-social support to women.

WJI responds to situations of crisis through emergency dispatches of legal teams to crisis-affected zones, through investigative missions and through legal fact-findings, which often become the basis for further litigation to address severe women’s rights violations. It also consistently monitors and reviews the implementation of laws and policies related to women.

Through legal education and training of social activists, mahila panchayats, police personnel, lawyers, law students, and paralegals, it works to integrate women’s issues into the general discourse on justice and human rights. Judicial colloquia and legal consultations is a crucial aspect of its work — sensitizing judges and strategizing for the development of women’s rights law in India. The WJI also supports campaigns to influence public opinion, policies and legislation in support of a violence-free society for women. A core operational element of the WJI is the degree to which the team works in solidarity with other organizations. To this end, WJI has nurtured deep partnerships with grassroots women’s NGOs, supporting them in the collective struggle to address the public denial of women’s rights.

Main Concerns

• Rape and sexual assault

• Domestic violence

• Sexual harassment in the workplace and in educational institutions

• Matrimonial disputes, custody, divorce

• Women’s property and inheritance rights

• Reproductive and sexual health rights of women/ adolescent girls

• Pre-birth sex-selection and elimination of female foetuses

• Trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation, domestic work, marriage, etc.

• Child marriage

• Child sexual abuse

• Witch-hunting

• Acid attacks

• ‘Honour’-based crimes against women/‘honour killings’

• Equal employment opportunities for women and labour rights.

• Rights of doubly marginalized sections of women like HIV+ women, dalit and tribal women, women

prisoners, lesbians, bisexuals, disabled women.

• Any other gender based discrimination/exploitation

HRLN Impact

The WJI is combating the various facets of violence against women through the legal system. In a precedent-setting verdict on a case of an acid-attack, brought by WJI lawyers to the Karnataka High Court, the court created legal history by treating the throwing of acid as an attempt to murder (rather than an attempt to cause grievous injury) and imposed a life sentence on the perpetrator, ensuring that cases of acid-throwing attract stricter punishment without bail. In a remarkable judgment, Somaru Patel vs. State, for the first time in judicial history, the court awarded a life sentence under Section 6 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 for the forceful detention of women for prostitution. In another historic case filed in the Delhi High Court, Shramjivi Mahila Samittee vs. State and Others, the court directed the petitioner to form guidelines for placement agencies for domestic workers, which were drafted by the WJI and submitted to the court for implementation.

HRLN leads litigation on women’s issues across the country, playing a pivotal role in implementing the guidelines given by the Supreme Court on sexual harassment. The case of Shivani Thakur Vs. State of Punjab, filed by HRLN’s unit in Chandigarh, received an order that resulted in the State of Punjab instituting sexual harassment grievance committees in all its departments. HRLN’s landmark PIL in the Supreme Court, in the case of Medha Kotwal Lele Vs. Union of India received orders mandating only a single enquiry in cases of sexual harassment to curb the victimization of the complainant. The WJI has also made history by bringing reproductive rights into the ambit of legally enforceable rights through a number of landmark cases and PILs.

The WJI is particularly active in circumstances of extreme violation of women and has used the legal system to ensure rights and provide substantive reliefs in such cases. For example, in a writ petition filed in West Bengal against a shelter home where a woman was refused entry due to her HIV positive status, XY Vs Union Of India, the court directed the directorate of Social Welfare to clarify what steps have been taken to establish more shelter homes for positive woman.

training

BANKURA DISTRICT MEETING

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SWARUPNAGAR DISTRICT MEETING

Women constitute almost 50% of the world’s population but India has shown disproportionate sex ratio whereby femal ...read more

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PASCHIM MEDNIPUR DISTRCIT MEETING

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North Dinajpur District Meeting

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Jhargram District Meeting

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Jalpaiguri District Meeting

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Bongaon District Meeting

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Bankura District Meeting

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Forest Right Act 2006, Right to Property, Land related issues and Discussion on Violence against Women

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International Women's Day

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State Level Meeting on Violation of Human Rights in West Bengal During Covid 19

Prior to the announcement of the National Lockdown on 25 March 2020, a number of courts had shut down in response to t ...read more

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District Meeting on Women and Adolescent Empowerment

Women constitute almost 50% of the world’s population but India has shown disproportionate sex ratio whereby fema ...read more

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District Meeting on Women and Adolescent Empowerment

Women constitute almost 50% of the world’s population but India has shown disproportionate sex ratio whereby fema ...read more

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WEBINAR ON USE OF LAW FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

"Human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights, once and for all."- Hillary Rodham ClintonThe half ...read more

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MEDIA COVERAGE REPORT - WEST BENGAL

Media Coverage Report of West Bengal ...read more

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WEBINAR ON USE OF LAW FOR SAFEGUARDING VIOLATIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA

Human Rights are rights of all and for all human beings alike and have been globally recognized. The human rights are ri ...read more

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WEBINAR ON CYBER CRIME: CYBER STALKING AND HARASSMENT

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litigation

PIL filed in Orissa High Court seeking priority vaccines and Covid care management to Adivasi and PVTGs

Upendra Bhai Vrs State of Odisha and others-W.P.(C) PIL No. 17182 of 2021
Pending

news_story

What is The Status of Maternal Mortality Rate Among Women in India?

A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take. And maternal mortal ...read more

litigation

Medical Negligence

Court on its own motion Versus The State of Jharkhand W. P. (PIL) No. 645 of 2021
Inquiry team has to file its report and state of Jharkhand has to file its response

litigation

Women Tribal Hockey Players' Friendship Twisted : A new approach to Honour Killing

Rajesh Soreng vs. State of Jharkhand & Ors. WP (Cri.) 64/2020
Pending

training

Webinar on Women, Law and Justice

Female folks in India still face the brunt of the societal and cultural burdens. Violence against the women is still pre ...read more

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Webinar on Women, Law and Justice

Human Rights Law Network conducted a zoom Webinar on Webinar on Women, Law and Justice on 29th November 2020 ...read more

litigation

Helpless widow mother being tortured by her Responsible Four sons and Daughter-in-laws

C-366/2020 Gita rani Karmakar Versus Raj Kumar Karmakar & Ors.
Summon Issued

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Flood Relief in Hyderabad: Chanderghat and Kompally

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District Meeting Report on Legal Awareness Program at Pithoragarh

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Webinar on Domestic Violence Act :Definition, Provisions, Interim Relief, Relief and Mechanism

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litigation

Interim Relief seeks by survivor of a gruesome acid attack granted by Delhi High Court

Shaheen Qureshi v. Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors W.P.(C) 5770/2020
Pending

litigation

Upper Caste Boys molest women from the Dalit Community and harass her husband

Prince Kumar vs State of Harayana, BA/1973/2020
Pending

litigation

Order for maintenance to be paid to Wife and Children under Section 125 of CrPC

Pooka V. Shailendra MJC 1092/2018
Pending

litigation

Dalit Minor Girl attacked with Acid after being Gang Raped

Roopsingh Vs State of M.P., W.P. No 1066/2019
Pending

litigation

Right to women domestic workers

Phrasina Vs. Urban and Rural Development, W.P. (PIL) No. 21218/2019
Pending

litigation

Survivor of Rape and Domestic Violence overcomes odds with Karate

Pooja Ahirwar Vs Manoj, CRR. 1404/2020
Pending

litigation

Promote, Protect and Preserve The Health & Hygiene of adolescent girls

Sheela Vs. State of M.P., W.P. No. 6840/2020
Pending

litigation

Acid attack survivor recieves compensation of Rs 5 Lakhs, free medical treatment and Rs 3 Lakh as Reimbursement

Rupalee Vs State of M.P., W.P. No. 22615/2018
Pending

training

Webinar on District Consultation Meeting on Training, Coaching and Mentoring of Paralegals of Santhal Pargana Development Cluster (SPDC), Pradan and Womens Justice Meeting

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training

Webinar on District Meeting on Women Rights

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Webinar on District Meeting on Women Rights

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Webinar on District Consultation Meeting on Womens Justice With Santhal Pargana Development Cluster (SPDC), Pradan

Human Rights Law Network conducted a zoom Webinar on District Consultation Meeting on Womens Justice With Santhal Parg ...read more

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Webinar on District Consultation Meeting on Training, Coaching and Mentoring of Paralegals of Santhal Pargana Development Cluster (SPDC), Pradan

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litigation

Bombay HC after allowing termination of pregnancy reiterates that State and its agencies will have to assume full responsibility of child if born alive

Deepali Kambli V. State of Mahrashtra
Disposed off

litigation

Bombay HC allows medical termination at 24 weeks pregnancy

Seema Survase V. State of Maharashtra
Disposed Off

training

Webinar on The Concerns Pertaining to Women: Socio-Economic and Political & Importance of Networking

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Using the Law for Human Rights in Arunachal Pradesh

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litigation

Minor SC Girl demands her right to abortion

Shashikala Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh, W.P. No. 8689/2020
Disposed Off

training

Rights and Challenges faced by Students with Disability, Girl Students and Students from Scheduled Caste Community

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training

Report on the Two-Day Webinar on Access to Reproductive Justice

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Caste Atrocity against Kum S. Dharani

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High Court Seeks Reply From State in Petition Against Improper Implementation of Menstrual Hygiene Scheme

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news_story

Madhya Pradesh HC seeks reply from state in petition against improper implementation of Menstrual Hygiene Scheme

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litigation

Bombay High Court allows Medical Termination at 26 weeks pregnancy

Nidhi Nilesh Jadhav Versus State of Maharashtra
Disposed off.

litigation

Delhi District Court cancelled acid attack accused bail for repeatedly threatening the complainant

State vs Mohd. Salim @ Pintu, SC No. 253/2019
Prosecution Evidence

litigation

Challenging rejection of reservation for Persons with Disabilities

George Paily Vs. Union of India, W.P. (C) 2508/2020
Pending

litigation

Challenging denial in name and gender change documents for Transgender Persons in Colleges and Universities

Raghav P.R. Vs. State of Kerala, W.P. (C) 1443/2020

litigation

Rights for Women Domestic Workers (Minimum Wages)

Ayushi Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh, W.P. No. 3118/2020
Pending

litigation

Sentence Condoned after fourteen years

litigation

Further investigation in Activist Molestation Case

litigation

50 Year old Upper Caste Man rapes a Dalit girl for over a year

Praveen Kumar v. State of Haryana
On-going Investigation

litigation

PIL filed to ban the sale of Acid, Acid is still being sold openly even after the Supreme Court Judgement

Yashoda Vs State of Madhya Pradesh, W.P. No. 987/2020
Pending

litigation

Sexual Harassment Judgement - Delhi

news_story

One Out of Every 7 Kids Malnourished in Indore District

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publication

Workshop on Legal Empowerment for Women in Devdasi system

...read more

publication

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 Handbook (Hindi)

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publication

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 Handbook

The recently enacted ‘The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005’ ‘is a redical leap towards recogniz ...read more

publication

Training Module Rights of Women Under the Personal Laws in India

By Varsha C. Sinha, Edited by Edited by Suresh Nautiyal This handbook deals with the rights of women in different Pers ...read more

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Combatting Sexual Harassment of The Workplace : A handbook for Women, Employers and NGOs

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Facilitation Guidebook

By Aurina Chatterji with guidance from Sneha Khandekar ...read more

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Domestic Violence and the Law

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Leading Cases on Dowry

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litigation

Case of abandoned NRI brides: Supreme Court issues notice to the state

publication

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litigation

MP High Court awards compensation to woman who delivered a child despite undergoing sterilization

litigation

Delhi fast-track court punishes rape accused with 20 years rigorous punishment; Victim compensated with Rs 5 lakh

litigation

Wayanad: Biological mother granted custody of minor child, who was separated from adoptive mother

litigation

16 bonded labourers, including pregnant women & children, rescued in Srinagar

litigation

Bombay High Court grants permission to abort 25 week old pregnancy of minor rape survivor

litigation

Peitition in case of maternal death due to non-implementation of healthcare schemes

litigation

Piyali Dutta vs State of West Bengal: Acid attack survivor granted compensation

litigation

Bombay High Court liberally interprets The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 to allow the termination of pregnancy post 20 weeks

Shaikh Ayesha Khatoon v. The State of Maharashtra
Disposed

litigation

Bombay HC permits 27 weeks pregnant woman to terminate her pregnancy

litigation

Bombay High Court directed State Government to compensate acid attack survivor

Aarti Thakur v. State of Maharashtra
Pending

litigation

Delhi HC directs DLSA to consider request of woman with 60% petrol burns seeking enhanced compensation

litigation

In a first, acid attack survivor in Madhya Pradesh granted compensation of Rs 7 lakh

litigation

Anjali Anand vs. State of M.P. and Others

litigation

Pregnant woman's death: Petition filed to highlight failed implementation of NFA Act, 2013

litigation

Case of domestic abuse

litigation

Maternal death due to non-implementation of healthcare schemes in Nagaland's Mon District

publication

Training Module on the Rights of Women Against Violence

Author: Vikram Srivastava. Co-ordination: Aparna Dwivedi. Editor: Suresh Nautiyal. Text Editor: Nancy Cruz. ...read more

publication

From the Field to the Judge’s Bench: Developing Litigation Strategies to Improve the Lives of Women

Editor: Kerry McBroom Coordinator: Karla Torres. ...read more

litigation

Petition demanding transfer of investigation of deceased rape victim aged 20 to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) .

litigation

Petition filed against arbitrary denial of Mother and Child Protection Card

litigation

Petitioner approaches High Court for immediate relief under Atal Amrit Abhiyan scheme

litigation

Court grants compensation in acid attack case, directs State to provide free treatment.

litigation

Petition filed for access to basic health facilities in lower Dibhang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh

litigation

Habeas Corpus filed against Domestic Violence Victim

litigation

Punjab HC directs the State Government to award Compensation for Acid-Attack Survivor

litigation

Sexual assault survivor escapes shelter home in Jharkhand, missing thereafter

litigation

Petition in Calcutta HC seeks compensation for acid attack survivors, points out defects in West Bengal Victim Compensation Scheme

litigation

Acid attack survivor accorded financial assistance by Kolkata High Court

litigation

Angura Bibi v State of West Bengal & Ors: Seeking compensation for acid attack survivor

litigation

Sexual violence, physical assault, looting of property and destruction of property by the security forces consisting of CoBRA, CRPF, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the local police in the villages of Pedagallur, Chhattisgarh

litigation

Order issued to the State of Haryana to release funds for the treatment of Acid Attack Survivors

litigation

Acid attack survivor seeks rehabilitation and compensation

Gulnaz Begum vs State of J&K and others, WP 324/17

litigation

Monika Mondal v.State of West Bengal and Ors.W.P. 22924(w) of 2016, High Court at Calcutta

litigation

Single mother working for Maharashtra state services transferred after making sexual harassment complaint against co-worker

litigation

Woman files FIR against her husband for committing rape, fraud, cheating, assault, torture and trying to poison her

litigation

Maternal death in District Hospital of Tuensang, Nagaland

litigation

Disabled worker arbitrarily denied promotion, files application in Orissa Administrative Tribunal

litigation

Supreme Court highlights the low status of women in Indian families, in PIL judgement on non-implementation of the PCPNDT Act

litigation

Negligence and poor implementation of maternal benefit provisions leads to Maternal death, husband files petition.

litigation

Petitione filed in case of Maternal death due to negligence and poor implementation of Maternity Benefit Schemes.

publication

Fact findings on Public Health Centres in South West Khasi Hills, Shillong

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publication

Fact finding report on Public Heath Centres in Meghalaya

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litigation

Maternal death caused due to non-implementation of health care schemes, petition filed in Odisha High Court

litigation

After Pregnant lady dies due to negligence and poor treatment, husband files petition against non-implementation of the welfare schemes and violation of reproductive rights/ right to health of the mother.

litigation

Maternal death due to the poor implementation of maternal health schemes, absence of ante-natal care, a broken referral system and substandard medical treatment in the District Hospital of Dimapur

litigation

Petition challenging the decision of Public Health & Family Welfare Department to restrict certain tribes from availing sterilization facilities

litigation

Writ filed against Police for their inaction and for directions to initiate criminal proceedings against the sexual assault perpetrators

litigation

Calcutta high court directs conclusion of trial in acid attack case within a month

litigation

Calcutta HC awards compensation of Rs 1 lakh to woman who was fired after complaining about sexual harassment, directs employer to reinstate her

litigation

Allahabad high court orders free treatment to two acid attack survivors

litigation

Petition moved against in-laws of the victim for harrasment

litigation

Calcutta HC orders West Bengal chief secy to provide compensation of Rs 3 lakhs to acid attack victim Sabana Khatun and finds govt position unacceptable

litigation

Guwahati HC quashes cabinet decision postponing municipal and local council elections in Nagaland; Naga Women to avail one-third reservation

litigation

SC stays Delhi High Court’s order regarding recalling of witnesses in the Uber rape case, issues notice to Delhi police and accused

litigation

Medha Kotwal Lele vs. Union of India and others: A petition against sexual harassment of women at the workplace

litigation

Orissa Patita Adhar Samiti vs. State of Orissa and Ors: A PIL that prevented the eviction of sex workers without proper rehabilitation

litigation

Petition filed to protect the fundamental rights of a husband and wife who wish to reside together and are not being permitted to do so by the local community

litigation

Implement the Rehabilitation Scheme for the Rape Survivor, Court Issued notice to States

litigation

HRLN has filed a PIL to Compensate the Acid attack Survivor under Maharashtra's Manodhairya Yojana in the Bombay High Court

litigation