Kupwara District in the Kashmir region has become the first district to organize an awareness and training program for the LGBTQIA community.
According to details available with The Web Story/The Varmul Post, under the directives of NALSA and the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in Kupwara conducted an awareness and training program for Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADCs), panel lawyers, and paralegal volunteers (PLVs) on the rights, entitlements, and challenges faced by the LGBTQIA community.
The program was held under the supervision of Shazia Tabasum, Chairperson of DLSA and Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kupwara, with guidance from Moneer Ahmad, Secretary/Sub-Judge of DLSA Kupwara.
During his address to the gathering, Secretary Moneer Ahmad emphasized the importance of fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. He highlighted the necessity of celebrating diversity and promoting equality for the LGBTQIA community and urged all legal functionaries to empower and spread awareness regarding the free legal aid provided to these communities.
The program commenced with a welcome address by Mozamil Yousuf Bhat, Deputy Chief LADC of Kupwara, followed by insightful and well-articulated speeches from various speakers. Mozamil Yousuf covered essential topics, ranging from basic definitions and terminologies to the rights, entitlements, and issues faced by the community in daily life.
Resource Person Tawseef Raja shed light on the constitutional rights, as well as the political and educational rights of LGBTQIA individuals. He emphasized the need for discrimination laws and their legal protections guaranteed by the Constitution of India, and he stressed that these communities must not be subjected to discrimination, abuse, or suppression.
The program was attended by LADCs of Kupwara, panel lawyers, officials from DLSA, PLVs, and members of the general public and litigants.
Similar programs have been conducted by the Tehsil Legal Services Committee in Sogam.
