HRLN, NEW DELHI, February 28, 2013 - The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awarded Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions for its contributions to reproductive rights advocacy in India. The award, which was announced today, recognizes 13 nonprofit organizations around the world who have demonstrated creativity and impact. Please go to the award website to watch a short film about our work.
With generous support from the MacArthur Foundation, HRLN lawyers and activists developed a comprehensive strategy for litigating reproductive rights in India. HRLN worked closely with grassroots health activists across India to hold states accountable for maternal mortality. After a poor pregnant woman was repeatedly refused medical care and forced to carry a dead fetus in her womb for five days, HRLN achieved its first groundbreaking decision on reproductive rights. The Delhi High Court’s 2010 landmark decision in Laxmi Mandal marked the first time a court identified maternal death as a fundamental rights violation. The Court held that all pregnant women are entitled to highly subsidized food, education for their children, and free health services.
Today, HRLN’s Reproductive Initiative has over 40 pending cases in 10 states on a variety of key maternal health issues including maternal mortality, access to health care, discrimination in maternal care, coercive population control policies, and access to contraceptives. Members of the Reproductive Rights Initiative also work with partners to advocate for change outside of the courtroom.
According to MacArthur, the Award is not only recognition for past leadership and success but also an investment in the future. HRLN will use MacArthur’s generous financial award to purchase a permanent office space for our reproductive rights work and to provide insurance for our dedicated activists who put themselves at risk in the field.
For additional information, please visit HRLN's website or contact:
Colin Gonsalves, HRLN Founder/Director
Email: colin.gonsalves@hrln.
Mobile: +91 9810615811
Kerry McBroom, Director, Reproductive Rights Initiative, HRLN
Email: kmcbroom.hrln@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 9650316596
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