Law is not static but a dynamic terrain which is
evolved constantly through the process of
litigation. There is a need to orient activists
regarding the emerging profile of litigation and
rights discourse in order to keep them abreast
with the changing legal and social reality. As
newer laws are enacted and newer procedures are
laid down, a need also surfaces to expose
students, teachers and grass root organizations
regarding these legal provisions.
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Two recent examples are the recently
enacted Domestic Violence Act and the Supreme Court
guidelines on Sexual Harassment at Workplace. Apart
from this even the traditional matrimonial
litigation has become extremely complex with
economic issues such as the right of residence in
matrimonial home, contests over child custody and
access and rights of women in informal relationships
taking precedence over traditional remedies of
divorce and maintenance. The legal provisions of
rape and sexual violence have also undergone a
change in recent years.
Frequently, women are
inadequately represented during litigation. We |
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have evolved a comprehensive course of para-legal
training with students and other niche groups and
grass root level activists in order to disseminate
information, popularize legal literacy and the tried
and tested court room strategies involved in formal
litigations.
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Over the years, Majlis has conducted several
workshops in various smaller cities and rural areas
of Maharashtra and in other States. The aim of these
workshops is to develop local level skills and
support systems for protecting women’s rights.
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We
have evolved innovative devices like maps and
scrolls to reach to illiterate and semi literate
participants and to cross the barriers of language
while conducting workshops in rural areas. We also
conduct workshops with various corporate houses and
public sector offices. |
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