Neetu Sharma is a passionate researcher and social development professional. She is committed to ensuring the realization of child rights. She has about 23 years of experience in policy research, teaching and practice in the area of child rights law as well as in food security. She currently works at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Enabling Access to Justice for Children in Conflict with the Law

Neetu’s project connected 70 children (many of whom belong to socially and economically marginalized communities) with legal representation services through the network of 12 lawyers that she created. An additional 300 people (the 70 children’s families) received links to psycho-social services, and awareness about the rights of children while they are in the judicial system, through individual awareness sessions. The wider community was also made more aware of the legal process for minors and gained insights into preventive as well as procedural aspects of law. Access to quality legal services empowered the children and their families, and the network of 12 lawyers are motivated to support more children on a pro bono basis in the future. Neetu also actively engaged with three members of the Juvenile Justice Board, who were inspired by the project to recommend similar training of all free legal aid lawyers on child protection and provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act. One of the members of The Juvenile Justice Board reflected, "We ourselves notice a lot of time[s] that the lawyers are either not prepared or not much interested in cases related to children, and the need for improving legal aid services of children seems to be a major cause [of] delay in enabling justice to children."

"The project helped us come together and synchronize other legal skills with that of [the] child rights framework. At times, as lawyers we are so occupied reading and interpreting provisions that we lose sensitivity. I am glad that I could be part of this group that is facilitating greater understanding on child rights." - Participating Lawyer

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Neetu was a participant in the IVLP Project Children's Rights and Legal Protections, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

US Communities Visited

San Diego, CA; Washington, DC; Kansas City, MO; Pittsburgh, PA

Country: India 

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