Reaching for the Horizon: Narratives of Immunity and Impunity

Mapping some emblematic struggles for justice to seek accountability and redress for human rights violations, the lecture traces the colonial continuities in law that accord immunity from prosecution; the institutional bias embedded in practice and procedure; the challenges posed by silences in the law; which enable and entrench impunity. As victim families and communities assert their right to know the truth, judicial processes view them with suspicion, and adjudication infected by anxiety adopts pragmatism to ‘balance’ state power. Drawing upon experiences from litigation the lecture will reflect upon how these court battles are fought and sustained.

VRINDA GROVER, Advocate Supreme Court of India

Vrinda Grover is a lawyer, researcher and human rights activist based in New Delhi, India. She obtained her law degree from Delhi University and her Masters in Law from New York University. She is active in the women's rights and human rights movements in India.

As a lawyer she has appeared in landmark cases representing victims and survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment, communal conflict, extra judicial executions, enforced disappearances, custodial torture, and targeted human rights defenders.

Note: that event will be treated on a first-come-first-served basis for seats.