Over the past six years, JVI Justice Hubs have assisted more than 60,000 community members from Bihar, Delhi, Mumbai, and West Bengal through legal aid camps and clinics designed to facilitate the process of seeking justice on a range of matters, including domestic violence, sexual assault, property disputes, and trafficking. Justice Hub lawyers and paralegal volunteers, in coordination with local legal services authorities, offer counsel and connect individuals with relevant support systems to access justice. Over the years, this has evolved into a powerful tool for providing legal assistance, expanding the Justice Hub network, and building trust among diverse communities.
A recent breakthrough in an ongoing case from a Mumbai slum highlights how these legal aid camps help communities navigate the complex and often wearisome judicial process. Two women had stepped forward as witnesses in support of a fifteen-year-old girl who had been sexually assaulted by her father. However, numerous delays ensued and dampened their resolve to testify for this girl, as they were repeatedly called to court for examination but sent home without giving their evidence. Eventually, their families reprimanded them for unnecessarily involving themselves in the girl’s case and discouraged them from further appearing in court.
Upon learning of this matter, Justice Hub lawyers counseled the women about their responsibilities as witnesses and the importance of their participation in the process. With the encouragement of the lawyers, the witnesses met with authorities, testified, and underwent thorough examination to support the girl’s case, which will provide the necessary foundation to prosecute the case in court.
