Empowering voices: Increasing access to justice for people | Smita Singalkar | TEDxCivilLinesWomen

Imagine a world where disputes are resolved quickly, fairly, and without the need for lengthy court battles. Mediation offers a powerful solution to the overwhelming backlog of cases in our judicial system. Let's explore how we can shift our mindset and embrace mediation to deliver timely justice and foster a more harmonious society. A Homeopath turned lawyer and has been practicing at the High Court in Nagpur since 2007. A dedicated advocate for women's rights, she founded the "Rape Crisis Centre" to provide free legal aid to victims of rape and sexual harassment. Smita initiated the "Occupy the Men's Toilet" movement and supported the "#MeToo" movement through the Walk for Respect rally. She visits Central Jail, Nagpur, to offer pro bono legal assistance to impoverished inmates and organized the "Night Tea With Azadi" event to highlight women's safety issues. As Chairperson of the Local Complaint Committee, Dist. Nagpur. She continuously advocates for justice for women. She has also served as a Non-Governmental Member in various Internal Committees and was part of the National Commission for Women's Fact-Finding Committee. Honored as Asia's Young Leader in 2009, Smita is an accomplished writer and received the Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Award 2022-23 of State of Maharashtra for her extensive work. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx