Our Partners

The report is the result of collaboration and research between six organisations:

An organisation fighting for the rights of the marginalised and the vulnerable, principally in the sphere of access to justice. Inspired by Freirean thought, CSJ has been active in more than eight states across India, creating human rights interventions, using law as a key strategy through an intimate engagement with grassroot realities. Central to CSJ’s efforts are its institutional interventions in legal reform and research, which bridge and symbiotically combine grassroots activism, law and policy-making on a wide gamut of issues concerning the rights of women, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and other socially vulnerable groups.

Common Cause

Dedicated to championing public causes, campaigning for probity in public life and the integrity of institutions. It seeks to promote democracy, good governance and public policy reforms through advocacy and democratic interventions. Common Cause is especially known for the difference it has made through a large number of Public Interest Litigations (PILs), such as recent ones on the cancellation of the entire telecom spectrum; cancellation of arbitrarily allocated coal blocks; and the Apex Court’s recognition of an individual’s right to die with dignity.

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)

An independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation working for the practical realisation of human rights through research, strategic advocacy and capacity building within the Commonwealth. CHRI specialises in the areas of access to justice (police and prison reforms) and access to information. It also works to advance freedom of expression, media rights and the eradication of contemporary forms of slavery. CHRI is a Commonwealth Accredited Organisation and has a Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC.

DAKSH

A Bengaluru based civil society organisation working on judicial reforms at the intersection of data science, public policy and operations research. Under the Rule of Law Project initiated in 2014 they undertake research and activities to promote accountability and better governance in India.

TISS–Prayas

A social work demonstration project of the Center for Criminology and Justice, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, established in 1990. Prayas’s focus is on service delivery, networking, training, research and documentation, and policy change with respect to the custodial/institutional rights and rehabilitation of socio-economically vulnerable individuals and groups. Their mission is to contribute knowledge and insight to the current understanding of aspects of the criminal justice system policy and process, with specific reference to socio-economically vulnerable and excluded communities, groups and individuals who are at greater risk of being criminalised or exposed to trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

An independent think-tank doing legal research to make better laws, and improve governance for the public good. Vidhi engages with ministries and departments of the Indian government, as well as state governments, and also collaborates with other relevant stakeholders within public institutions, and civil society members, to assist and better inform the laws and policies being effectuated. The Centre also undertakes, and freely disseminates, independent research in the areas of legal reform, which it believes is critical to India’s future.