Human Rights Law Network

Human Rights Law Network

Abbreviation	HRLN
Formation	1989
Founder	Colin Gonsalves
Type	Non-governmental organisation
Headquarters	New Delhi, India
Parent organization	Socio-Legal Information Centre
Website	www.hrln.org

The Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) is an Indian non-profit organisation founded in 1989 to protect the fundamental human rights and civil liberties of the most marginalised and vulnerable members of society. Working on the intersection of law, advocacy, policy, and education, HRLN is organised as a collective of lawyers and social activists dedicated to providing legal assistance to vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, advocating for the implementation of structures to safeguard human rights and fight systemic oppression, and educating the public on their rights and remedies. HRLN provides pro bono legal services to marginalised groups, conducts investigations into human rights violations, and undertakes high-stakes impact litigation in service of the public interest. The organisation operates across the spectrum of public interest law, focusing specifically on children’s rights, rights of disabled persons, rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, prisoners' rights, refugee rights, rights of indigenous people, workers' rights, rights of minorities, and the protection of victims of sexual violence or trafficking.

HRLN is a project of the Socio-Legal Information Centre (SLIC), a non-profit legal aid and education organisation which provides free legal assistance to those people who lack the capacity to seek legal remedy. The SLIC files more than 100 petitions each year to protect the health, dignity, and rights of Indian citizens. SLIC and HRLN are together India’s largest, most active legal human rights program and reproductive rights unit.^[1] SLIC is also an implementing partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.^[2]