Social Justice & Inclusion
Marginalized communities frequently encounter exclusion from participating in developmental initiatives, perpetuating their alienation from mainstream society. This exclusion is compounded by discrimination, affecting scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, religious minorities, women, and others. The Holy Cross addresses these issues by fostering collaboration among stakeholders, including marginalized groups, government bodies, and civil society organizations, to enhance access to justice, promote equitable practices, strengthen institutions, and reform justice systems.
The Challenge
At the heart of many developmental issues in the country lies systemic discrimination based on gender, sexuality, religion, caste, and socio-economic status. Despite constitutional protections like Article 15, which prohibits state discrimination on these grounds, marginalized communities struggle to access public goods and services such as education, housing, healthcare, child protection, and justice. This exclusion contributes to heightened vulnerabilities, including higher incarceration rates and unsafe environments, especially for women, children, Dalits, and Adivasis. Addressing these challenges requires navigating complex intersections of poverty, disabilities, and gender dynamics to achieve true social justice and inclusion.
Strategic Approach
The Holy Cross Organization’s strategic approach focuses on fostering collaboration, promoting equitable practices, and reforming justice systems to address discrimination and exclusion faced by marginalized communities in Andhra Pradesh. They aim to empower communities, strengthen institutions, and advocate for systemic reforms for enhanced social justice and inclusion.
