Lawyers Collective is an NGO

Non-governmental organization

A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...

 in India which promotes human rights, especially issues relating to women's rights

Women's rights

Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...

, HIV

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...

, tobacco

Tobacco

Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...

, and parliamentary corruption in India

Corruption in India

Political, bureaucratic, corporate and individual corruption in India are major concerns. A 2005 study conducted by Transparency International in India found that more than 55% of Indians had first-hand experience of paying bribes or influence peddling to get jobs done in public offices...

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Founding

Lawyers collective was founded in 1981. Among its founders were Indira Jaising

Indira Jaising

Indira Jaising is a leftist Indian lawyer. She went to school in Mumbai and graduated in Bangalore, before getting her degree in law in 1962. Jaising became the second woman to be designated as a Senior Advocate by the High Court of Bombay in 1986 .She became the first woman to be appointed...

 and Anand Grover

Anand Grover

Anand Grover is a lawyer known for legal activism in Indian law relating to homosexuality and HIV. He is a member of the Lawyers Collective.-United Nations work:...

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HIV issues

The Lawyers Collective has written a bill intended for debate in parliament regarding HIV / AIDS discrimination. The purpose of the proposed law is to prohibit discrimination against persons living with HIV. The proposal describes prohibition of discrimination in employment, healthcare, and education, and further prohibits hate and discriminatory propaganda. Anand Grover

Anand Grover

Anand Grover is a lawyer known for legal activism in Indian law relating to homosexuality and HIV. He is a member of the Lawyers Collective.-United Nations work:...

 is the head of the Lawyers Collective HIV/ AIDS unit.

Decriminalization of homosexuality

The Lawyers Collective works closely with the Naz Foundation

Naz Foundation (India) Trust

The Naz Foundation Trust is a non-governmental organisation in that country that works on HIV/AIDS and sexual health. It is based in the Indian capital of New Delhi.-History:...

 and acted as their legal team in their lawsuit to repeal Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code

Chapter XVI, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code is a piece of legislation in India introduced during British rule of India that criminalises sexual activity "against the order of nature." The section was read down to decriminalise same-sex behaviour among consenting adults in a historic...

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Women's rights

In 2006 the Lawyers Collective received a grant from the United Nations Development Fund for Women to develop a project titled "Staying Alive – Empowerment through Law." The purpose of this project was to provide legal resources to promote women's rights in the Indian legal system.

External links

• Draft law of 2007 HIV/AIDS Bill