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
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
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...
Waiting for Justice (2011)
Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...
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
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...
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...
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...
Waiting for Justice (2011)
Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...
International Law
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...
Waiting for Justice (2011)
Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
Waiting for Justice (2011)
Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...
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...
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
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...
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...
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...
Waiting for Justice (2011)
Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...
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
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...
Waiting for Justice (2011)
Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence...
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...
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...
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
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
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...