Organization in Legal Sector Working for Social Justice
Apart from lawyers providing to society by giving free legal services to those in need, there are several organizations working towards inclusivity by bringing access to social justice for all.
Being a lawyer is a respectable and dignified profession that calls for scrupulous adherence to rules of behavior. The purpose of the judicial system is to safeguard citizens’ rights. However, as a centralized and rather inflexible framework, it has not sufficiently supported people’s involvement and rights. As a result, the overwhelming majority of Indians are denied access to justice.
Apart from lawyers providing to society by giving free legal services to those in need, there are several organizations working towards inclusivity by bringing access to social justice for all.
Ashoka’s Law for all initiative – Ashoka’s Law for All Initiative is aimed at developing precisely such an ecosystem by establishing its three building blocks: a collective of leading social entrepreneurs, critical sector catalysts and influencers, and a growing movement of young justice change makers.
Common Cause India – It strives for an India where every citizen is respected and fairly treated. It does this by defending and fighting for the rights and entitlements of all groups of citizens. So far, Common Cause has fought 54+ Supreme Court Cases and 27+ high court cases.
Namati – Namati and its partners train and deploy community paralegals to take on the injustices of our times. The paralegals are trained in basic law and in skills like mediation, organizing, education, and advocacy. They form a dynamic, creative frontline that can squeeze justice out. They strive to translate the lessons from grassroots experience into positive, large-scale changes to laws and systems.
Centre for Social Justice – Centre for Social Justice is a socio-legal NGO initiated by the Institute for Development Education and Learning (IDEAL). It uses the law for social change to ensure access to justice for vulnerable communities and to secure social justice, equity and equality, and fraternity. Additionally, it also promotes an enabling policy and legislative environment that respects, promotes, and protects the human rights of vulnerable communities.
Criminal Justice and Police Accountability Project – The CPA Project is a litigation, research, and capacity-building intervention committed to ending the disproportionate targeting of marginalized communities by the criminal justice system. They use data-driven research and human rights lawyering to help vulnerable & historically marginalized communities advocate for decriminalization and demarcation.
The involvement of people at the grassroots level is the most important way to bring socio-economic development. However, it also requires a systematic change, which can be done by following steps:
- Legal literacy and legal empowerment
- Intersectional approach in policymaking
- Long-term collaborations between government, administration, and citizens
- Inclusive data collection systems for good governance
Social justice is the foundation stone of the Indian Constitution, with the aim of equal opportunity for every citizen in the matter of social and economic activities organization and to prevent inequalities. To uphold and protect these rights awarded by the lawmakers of this country, we need a deeper understanding of the law and justice landscape. Additionally, we also need evidence-based research, tools, advocacy, and legal frameworks that ensure inclusion and equity. This can be achieved only by a collective effort of all the stakeholders.
