Mera Haq Documentary by Reproductive Rights Unit of HRLN - Part 2

Told through the untimely death of Shanti Devi, Mera Haq reveals the
daily toils of surviving pregnancy for society's most vulnerable and
marginalized. The film recounts Shanti's journey to maternal death, a
journey tragically representative of the systemic barriers that
hundreds of thousands of women encounter in accessing basic medical
care. Through interviews and photographs with family and friends, and
internationally recognized legal and health experts, Mera Haq unveils
the Indian government's failure to respect, protect, and fulfill the
human rights of its people. Despite rapid economic growth and panoply
of laws mandating access to reproductive health services, India
consistently has the highest incidence of maternal death worldwide,
currently carrying 20% of the global burden.

Refusing to accept delay and denial of medical treatment as a foregone
outcome for the lives of the poor, Shanti's family turned to the
courts. They sought accountability and a restoration of dignity, and
in December 2008 filed Laxmi Mandal v. Deen Dayal Harinagar Hospital &
ORS, W.P.(C) 8853/2008. In a groundbreaking judgment, the government
was ordered to pay compensation for Shanti's preventable death, and
for the first time in history, maternal mortality was recognized as a
human rights violation. Mera Haq pays tribute to the tireless spirit
of Shanti's family and community members, and illustrates litigation
as a powerful tool for advancement of social change and government
accountability.

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• Mera Haq
• HRLN
• Human Rights in India
• Human Rights Law Network
• Reproductive Rights
• Surviving Pregnancy in India