I work as a consultant on gender, human rights and the law. I research, write, speak
and am involved in capacity-building and advocacy initiatives. The issues I engage with
include communal violence, torture, violence and discrimination against women, repressive
laws, rights of victims,witness protection, impunity for mass crimes and the relevance of
international law and jurisprudence. 

I currently work as an international consultant for UN Office of the High Commissioner on
Human Rights, preparing a tool on witness protection with an integration of gender
concerns. I am also on the Board of Trustees of Women’s Research & Action Group
(WRAG) – a non-profit organization based in Mumbai working on empowerment of women, where
I previously worked in the capacity of Co-Director and thereafter as Executive Director,
from the years 2002-2010. 

I worked as the National Coordinator of ICC-India: the Indian campaign on International
Criminal Court – an anti-impunity campaign on mass crimes and international law – from
2002 to 2010. 

I have actively associated with the women’s movement and human rights movement in India
for the past 18 years. 

I am passionate about research and writing on aspects of gender, law and human rights. I
also find it exceptionally motivating and satisfying to address young lawyers and
students of law and other disciplines on areas of my interest, and urge young minds to
think beyond the obvious. 

I live in Mumbai, India. 

Human Rights

Link

India: 20 Years after the Mumbai Riots, Don't Forget Her Story, One World South Asia (2012)

The article focusses on gender-based violence in contexts of communal (religion-based) attacks, and discusses reasons...

 

Link

When 'Protector' Becomes the Perpetrator: Justice vs Impunity, The Official Blog of the Gender Violence Research and Information Taskforce at Prajnya Initiatives (2012)

The article discusses gender-based violence against women by state actors and the ensuing impunity for...

 

Link

Remembering Shahid Azmi: Can the Love of Justice Be Assassinated? (with Arvind Narrain), Law and Other Things (2012)

The piece is on the life and work of Shahid Azmi - a Mumbai-based human...

 

Link

Can the Love of Justice be Assassinated? (with Arvind Narrain), Kafila (2012)

The article was written during the process of a study on human rights lawyers in...

 

PDF

The Communal Violence Bill: Countering Impunity, Seeking Accountability, People's Verdict: Civil Society Review of UPA II's Performance (2011)

The article is a critique of Prevention of Communal and Targetted Violence (Access to Justice...

 

Mass Crimes

Link

India: 20 Years after the Mumbai Riots, Don't Forget Her Story, One World South Asia (2012)

The article focusses on gender-based violence in contexts of communal (religion-based) attacks, and discusses reasons...

 

Link

When 'Protector' Becomes the Perpetrator: Justice vs Impunity, The Official Blog of the Gender Violence Research and Information Taskforce at Prajnya Initiatives (2012)

The article discusses gender-based violence against women by state actors and the ensuing impunity for...

 

PDF

The Communal Violence Bill: Countering Impunity, Seeking Accountability, People's Verdict: Civil Society Review of UPA II's Performance (2011)

The article is a critique of Prevention of Communal and Targetted Violence (Access to Justice...

 

PDF

Waiting for Justice (2011)

Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...

 

PDF

Kandhamal: The Law Must Change its Course (2010)

The tragedy of Kandhamal, a district of Orissa in eastern India, is that the attack...

 

Victims' Rights

Link

India: 20 Years after the Mumbai Riots, Don't Forget Her Story, One World South Asia (2012)

The article focusses on gender-based violence in contexts of communal (religion-based) attacks, and discusses reasons...

 

Link

When 'Protector' Becomes the Perpetrator: Justice vs Impunity, The Official Blog of the Gender Violence Research and Information Taskforce at Prajnya Initiatives (2012)

The article discusses gender-based violence against women by state actors and the ensuing impunity for...

 

PDF

The Communal Violence Bill: Countering Impunity, Seeking Accountability, People's Verdict: Civil Society Review of UPA II's Performance (2011)

The article is a critique of Prevention of Communal and Targetted Violence (Access to Justice...

 

PDF

Waiting for Justice (2011)

Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...

 

International Law

Link

When 'Protector' Becomes the Perpetrator: Justice vs Impunity, The Official Blog of the Gender Violence Research and Information Taskforce at Prajnya Initiatives (2012)

The article discusses gender-based violence against women by state actors and the ensuing impunity for...

 

PDF

Waiting for Justice (2011)

Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...

 

PDF

International Treaties on Human Rights, UNPACKAGING HUMAN RIGHTS: CONCEPTS, CAMPAIGNS & CONCERNS (2009)

The chapter provides an overview of international human rights norms and the dynamic relationship they...

 

PDF

UNPACKAGING HUMAN RIGHTS: CONCEPTS, CAMPAIGNS & CONCERNS, UNPACKAGING HUMAN RIGHTS: CONCEPTS, CAMPAIGNS & CONCERNS (2009)

This edited volume is a reader on human rights for the use of students of...

 

PDF

Interim Observations of the Jury, People's Tribunal on Torture - Karnataka (2008)

This is the interim report of the jury of the People's Tribunal on Torture, held...

 

International Criminal Court

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Advocating Socio-Economic Justice: Some Experiences of the ICC-India Campaign and the Potential for a Law Clinic, Social Change (2012)

The purpose of clinical legal education is not merely to equip the law student with...

 

Link

When 'Protector' Becomes the Perpetrator: Justice vs Impunity, The Official Blog of the Gender Violence Research and Information Taskforce at Prajnya Initiatives (2012)

The article discusses gender-based violence against women by state actors and the ensuing impunity for...

 

PDF

Waiting for Justice (2011)

Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...

 

PDF

Towards Accountability for Mass Crimes: A Report of the Indian Campaign on International Criminal Court 2000-2007 (with Pouruchisti Wadia) (2008)

This contains a detailed narrative on the activities undertaken by ICC-India - an anti-impunity campaign...

 

PDF

Antarrashtriya Dand Nyayalaya Aur Bharat: Kuch Sawaal-Jawaab (2006)

This is the Hindi translation of the publication 'International Criminal Court & India: Some Questions...

 

Women & Law

Link

India: 20 Years after the Mumbai Riots, Don't Forget Her Story, One World South Asia (2012)

The article focusses on gender-based violence in contexts of communal (religion-based) attacks, and discusses reasons...

 

Link

When 'Protector' Becomes the Perpetrator: Justice vs Impunity, The Official Blog of the Gender Violence Research and Information Taskforce at Prajnya Initiatives (2012)

The article discusses gender-based violence against women by state actors and the ensuing impunity for...

 

PDF

Rights of Adolescent Girls in India: A Critical Look at Laws and Policies (2012)

The book critically examines laws, policies and international standards as they affect adolescent girls in...

 

PDF

Waiting for Justice (2011)

Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...

 

PDF

Addressing Domestic Violence Through the Law: A Guide to - The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (2010)

The book is essentially a guide to the use of Protection of Women from Domestic...

 

Torture

Link

When 'Protector' Becomes the Perpetrator: Justice vs Impunity, The Official Blog of the Gender Violence Research and Information Taskforce at Prajnya Initiatives (2012)

The article discusses gender-based violence against women by state actors and the ensuing impunity for...

 

PDF

Waiting for Justice (2011)

Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...

 

PDF

Interim Observations of the Jury, People's Tribunal on Torture - Karnataka (2008)

This is the interim report of the jury of the People's Tribunal on Torture, held...

 

PDF

Interim Observations of the Jury, People's Tribunal on Torture - Rajasthan (2008)

This is the interim report of the jury of the People's Tribunal on Torture, held...

 

PDF

Interim Observations of the Jury, People's Tribunal on Torture - Tamil Nadu (2008)

This is the interim report of the jury of the People's Tribunal on Torture, held...

 

Adolescent girls

PDF

Rights of Adolescent Girls in India: A Critical Look at Laws and Policies (2012)

The book critically examines laws, policies and international standards as they affect adolescent girls in...

 

Communal Violence Bill

PDF

The Communal Violence Bill: Countering Impunity, Seeking Accountability, People's Verdict: Civil Society Review of UPA II's Performance (2011)

The article is a critique of Prevention of Communal and Targetted Violence (Access to Justice...