The Maharashtra unit of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) organized a day-long state cadre meet in Mumbai focused on open-house discussions surrounding human rights violations and potential solutions.
Fawaz Shaheen, lawyer and a researcher with APCR, underscored the organization’s nationwide mission to defend civil liberties. He highlighted APCR’s active involvement in addressing hate crimes against religious minorities, custodial violence, unlawful state actions, and arbitrary demolitions. Through legal intervention and court advocacy, APCR challenges systemic violations of rights across India.
Shaheen elaborated on APCR’s grassroots approach, noting the presence of active units in 18 districts across Maharashtra. These local chapters train volunteers and citizens in legal literacy and paralegal skills, enabling communities to safeguard their rights through constitutional means. “Human rights education should begin at the school level, much like sex education,” Shaheen emphasized, arguing that early awareness among students, teachers, and communities is essential.
He also pointed to the inadequacies of government commissions meant to protect human rights, stating that citizen-led initiatives are increasingly filling the void. He praised similar recent workshops, including one in Pune, as crucial steps toward empowering communities to fight rights violations legally and peacefully.
Nadeem Khan, National Secretary of APCR, reiterated the organization’s commitment to building a legally aware citizenry. He called for proactive measures from government bodies and highlighted the importance of sustained grassroots work in addressing injustices. Documentation, legal support, and training remain the pillars of APCR’s mission, he said.
The event marked an important step in uniting activists and volunteers under a shared goal that is to confront human rights abuses with knowledge, legal tools, and non-violent resistance.
