Reports

Report on Up-scaling the Legal Initiative in India for Reducing Maternal Mortality and Advancing Young People’s Reproductive Health and Rights

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Building upon Socio Legal Information Centre’s (SLIC) integrated advocacy approach to reducing maternal mortality and advancing young people’s rights in India, Project Period 2 yielded groundbreaking results. Through strategic legal intervention, public education, creative activism, and an expanded online presence, SLIC increased legal awareness on reproductive rights both inside and outside the courtroom. These efforts culminated in strengthened implementation of government schemes, a claiming of rights by communities across the country, and underscored art as

an effective medium to inspire action against maternal mortality. SLIC worked vigilantly to ensure that legal interventions increased government accountability, and in so doing, brought positive changes to the lives of India’s

Synopsis of Documentary - Mera Haq: Surviving Pregnancy in India

" Told through the untimely death of Shanti Devi, Mera Haq reveals the daily toils of surviving pregnancy for society’s most vulnerable and marginalized. The film recounts Shanti’s journey to maternal death, a journey tragically representative of the systemic barriers that hundreds of thousands of women encounter in accessing basic medical care. Through interviews and photographs with family and friends, and internationally recognized legal and health experts, Mera Haq unveils the Indian government’s failure to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of its people. Despite rapid economic growth and panoply of laws mandating access to reproductive health services, India consistently has the highest incidence of maternal death worldwide, currently carrying 20% of the global burden.

Report on the National Consultation: “Legal Interventions to Strengthen Accountability for Maternal Health and Reproductive Rights” 26-27 June 2010, Goa.

In June 2010, HRLN, in conjunction with a number of its partner organisations, held a National Consultation on “Legal Interventions to Strengthen Accountability for Maternal Health and Reproductive Rights”. The consultation was the third of its kind since the Reproductive Rights Initiative (RRI) was set up in 2008.

The objectives of the consultation were;

to debate and discuss further potential for using public interest litigation (PIL) as well as other legal strategies and advocacy efforts to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.
to strengthen redress mechanisms and Government accountability.
to capitalise on the work done and relationships forged throughout the past year by bringing together key players, with their wealth of experience and expertise in the reproductive rights and maternal health care field.
to discuss lessons learned, best practice, and ways to move forward.

Legal Case Series MERA HAQ / MY RIGHT

The Legal Case Series provide a concise summary of the main facts, legal arguments, and court orders in HRLN's public interest litigation and individual litigation cases. The Series should act as a legal resource for advocates and social activists who are committed to ensuring that human rights violations perpetrated by the State and its authorities do not go unchallenged.