Advocacy Programme:

LEGAL AWARENESS PROGRAMME

The "Legal Awareness Programme (LAP)" of the Green Cross Society is to seek justice for women, safeguard their rights, promote women's empowerment and to give legal assistance to weaker section and poor needy people of society. The LAP monitors the proper implementation of all the legislations enacted to protect the rights of women, weaker section and poor people so as to enable them to achieve equality in all spheres of life.

The awareness programme is implemented through other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), RWA and reputed institutions and aims to empower women and girls with the knowledge of their legal rights and duties, ultimately to be able to share power equally, gain full access to the means of development and to inspire a whole generation of women to work together towards achieving equality and justice.

NGOs, professionals, social workers, and women activists at various level help the LAP to bring legal awareness among women and girls of various sections of society.

The main Objectives of Legal Awareness Programme (LAP) are:

1. To impart practical knowledge about the basic legal rights and remedies provided under various women related laws, thereby making them fit to face the challenges in real life situations.

2. To make the women aware of the various machineries/organs of the Justice delivery system available for redressal of their problems/grievances.

3. The procedure of approaching and utilizing various channels available for the redressal of grievances i.e. the Police, the Executive and the Judiciary.

4. The role of Courts in achieving gender equality, most importantly the concept of public interest litigation.

5. The role of District Legal Service Authority, Free Legal Aid and LokAdalats.

6. To sensitize Women and Girls about their Rights as provided under the various laws including the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961; the Prevention of Domestic Violence to Women Act, 2005 etc.

i) Introduction/Overview:

The meaning of law, various social security legislations, free legal aid to the poor, Indian Evidence Act, various modes of dispute settlement mechanisms i.e. LokAdalats, Family Courts, Mahila Courts, Crime Against Women Cells, NCW, NHRC, State Commissions etc.

ii) Women and the Constitution:

Apart from others, stress should be laid on .Fundamental Rights, Constitutional Remedies (Writs), Electoral Law, Voting Rights for Women, participation in Panchayats, etc.

iii) Women & Family Laws:

Marriage Law, Separation, Divorce, Maintenance, Adoption, Family Laws, Right to Property and Succession, Guardianship, unmarried mother and the legitimacy of her children.

iv) Women in Custody:

Arrest, grounds of arrest, kinds of offences (bailable and non-bailable), arrest warrant, powers of police, rights of arrested persons including the right to bail, the immediate procedure to be adopted in case of violation of rights available etc. may be discussed with the help of case law in a more practical manner.

v) Criminal Law and Women:

Offences of dowry, rape, molestation, child rape and child abuse etc. Some recently decided cases may be discussed in detail.

vi) Procedure in Action:

Procedure for seeking redressal to be explained alongwith visits to Police Station, Courts, LokAdalats, field studies etc.

vii) Rights under different laws:

Rights at work place Equal Remuneration / Minimum Wages Act / Rights under Factories Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Mines and Plantation Act, Rules of work - in such specific areas, Sexual harassment at work place. Reproductive Health Rights - Foeticide, Infanticide, Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act 1994, The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

7. Local issues:

During the programme emphasis should be laid on discussing the local issues and the social practices prevalent in the society. The specific issues like Sati, Child Marriages, Child Labour, Prostitution, Dowry System etc. should be discussed in a detailed manner.

8. Faculty

The awareness on the above said points could be imparted with the help of District Legal Service Authority, Law Professors, Retired Judges, Senior Advocates and Women Activists.

9. Methodology

Theoretical knowledge cannot prepare persons for challenges in real life. Thus more stress should be laid on imparting knowledge through discussion, case study, video films, case conference and street plays, interactions and meeting with social activists, visits to LokAdalats, District Legal Service Authority, Jails, Police Stations, Family Courts, Mahila Courts, Consumer Courts etc.

10. Financial Assistance

GCS will seek financial assistance from government and non-government bodies for success of The Legal Awareness Programme (LAP).

GCS LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

Green Cross Society in association with Aravali Legal Assistance Forum has decided to provide Free Legal Assistance to all needy people who are willing to seek legal advices. This programme will directly provide help to all poor and needy people who are deprived to get Justice in the society due to higher charges of advocates, misguidance by lawyers and others, lack of knowledge and fear of court arguments,etc.

Aravali Legal Assistance Forum is an organization who are providing Legal Assistance to SC, ST, OBC and other needy people through group of lawyers from Supreme Court, High Court and Others Courts. Aravali Legal Assistance Forum gave their consent to give legal assistance to poor people irrespective of their caste, creed and religion.

Through this programme Law Students and other aspirant who are willing to do INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME can contact Green Cross Society for giving chance to do internship programme at Supreme Court/High Court or other courts through Aravali Legal Assistance Forum. We will soon upload Term of Condition and Form for Internship programme. Students can directly contact us through our mail id info@greencrosssociety.org