GNN.org is the exclusive media partner for the 2018 ‘Global Good Fund’ Fellows—12 extraordinary young social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place. Chosen annually, the 12 Fellows are each matched with an executive mentor, leadership coach, and $10,000. Hand-selected from 2,400 applicants in 100 countries, these visionaries are being celebrated—one each day on GNN—leading up to the 6th Annual Global Good Fund Gala, on April 26.
Ponder this: Do you feel equal to the world around you? In what ways are you different—and in what ways are you the same?
Rights of individuals and groups are often violated based on one or more aspect of their identity — such as race, gender, sexuality, class and religion. Growing up in India, Gulika Reddy experienced this first-hand. The normalization of identity-based discrimination filled her with anger, specifically the social acceptance of widespread gender-based violence.
With a mission to prevent and respond to this issue, and a belief that knowledge of the law is a powerful instrument, she set out to ‘be the change’.
As a human rights lawyer, Gulika knows good legislation alone does not guarantee justice. It needs to be supported by a number of fundamental enabling conditions including rights awareness and access to legal counsel.
To create these conditions, she spent time building partnerships between state and non-state actors to create rights awareness, and provide free legal services for indigent women. Despite receiving free legal assistance, women expressed reluctance to approach the legal system as…
