ABOUT US

What We Do

   

LAW works to address root causes of absolute poverty and inequality. We see lack of education as the root of powerlessness, all evil and problems in which people are deprived of opportunities, choices, resources, essential services, knowledge and protection. In this sense, poverty is something more than mere lack of income, health and education. it is also people's frustration about lack of any control in deciding the destiny of their lives, their exclusion from decision-making. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the guiding framework under which LAW functions, it also derives its mandate from the constitutional rights promised to every citizen of the country. Persistent injustice is not a violation of basic human rights of the people but it also undermines economic growth of a nation by wasting talents and human resources. It leads to a skewed society where power and decision making remain in the hands of a few leading to greater conflicts and undrmining of social cohesion in the end.


LAW seeks to address this through a Rights Based Approach where people are seen as the bearers of civil, political, social and economic rights. At the same time, institutions - both state and non-state institutions - are seen as duty bearers of civil, political and social and economic rights to the people. It is also important to underline that without augmenting people's ability to exercise them, the rights would be meaningless.


Hence we work to bring change in people's lives by aiming for wider structural changes that include:

  1. Greater state and institutional accountability;
  2. Effective participation of people and civil society organisations in decisions affecting their lives through articulation of their demands and rights and public and private institutions meet their responsibilities;
  3. Increased power and influence of the poor and marginalized people over distribution and use of public resources and assets;
  4. Increased social inclusion of the poor and most marginalized;
  5. Changes in ideas and beliefs to inform equitable development strategies.


All of LAW's work is framed by our commitment to five broad rights-based aims:

  1. The right to a sustainable livelihood;
  2. The right to basic social services;
  3. The right to life and security;
  4. The right to be heard and the right to identity; and
  5. The right to equality.

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