A continuum of injustice blankets Asia and other parts of the world because of complex factors such as poverty, social prejudice, gender discrimination, lack of education, and more. At JVI, we know just how integral access to justice is in transforming a community for good.
Without a fair and effective justice system, communities struggle, criminals walk the streets with impunity, benefits and services are distributed with bias and disarray, and the voices of individuals who most need to be heard will never be carried to their leaders.
JVI works to improve justice systems by promoting healthy communities, while advocating for positive changes in law, policy and practices to key stakeholders on issues of extreme injustice.
JVI’s lawyers, working with its Nyay Kendras (Hindi for “Justice Hubs”), have been making significant progress in improving justice systems in recent months.
A few encouraging advancements include:
- JVI’s legal team, working in coordination with Nyay Kendra partners, submitted a petition in the India Supreme Court to allow virtual testimony by trafficking victims in lieu of physical appearance in the trial courts. Child victims who are repatriated to their home states are often re-traumatized if they are taken back to the place of trafficking to testify in person. This long-standing requirement of due process for the accused perpetrators also severely delays trials. In response to JVI’s petition, the Supreme Court issued directions to various states (including Bihar and West Bengal, the locations of two JVI Nyay Kendras) to provide the necessary infrastructure for the recording of testimonies of children in human trafficking cases. The pilot program is currently underway and increasing use of the technology in a wide range of cases is already being reported.
- JVI’s legal team and the Bihar Nyay Kendra partners secured a direction from the Patna High Court in Bihar regarding victim compensation for sex trafficking victims. This direction will lead to a clearer and more expedient process for obtaining compensation for victims in the future.
- In response to recommendations provided by JVI and Nyay Kendra partners, the Directorate of Social Welfare of Bihar issued instructions to all Child Welfare Committees to develop procedures for making filings in all cases of child abuse and assistance in the rehabilitation of minor sex trafficking survivors. These procedures take into account the sensitive nature of such cases and provide a greater level of protection for the survivors.
JVI believes that the pursuit of justice is the shared responsibility of all those with the ability to help. We collaborate with justice partners, volunteers, donors, investors and like-minded organizations through shared networks enabled by an increasingly interconnected world.
Thank you for supporting our work of freedom, justice and restoration.
