VizChitra 2025

Through our talk we want to take you on our journey of curating empirical evidence through diverse data sources to examine whether child protection laws are working for or against children.

When we started out doing legal research in the field of child protection and juvenile justice in 2015, we found limited data in the public domain to measure the effectiveness of implementation of child protection laws. Data was confined to rates related to reporting, pendency, and convictions. Judgments of trial courts, which were available on e-courts, was an untapped source of data, and offered an opportunity to examine the workings of the entire criminal justice system as well as the participation of children in trials. From manually downloading and sifting through thousands of judgments, our recent collaborations with data scientists has improved our efficiency and the magnitude of our data samples. It has also encouraged us to make use of AI tools to extract and refine large volumes of data and also figure out pathways to make the data accessible to frontline workers so as to advance children’s rights.

Our research methods and priorities have also been shaped by our direct work with children and functionaries in the justice system. Stakeholder interviews and studies centering the voice of children and survivors are equally significant “data” and ensures that our work is grounded and responds to the lived realities of children journeying through the system.
The impact of such research and backlash to it is also of relevance and must be factored by those working in the space of data and social justice. Through this talk, we will offer insights on the cohesive use of quantitative and qualitative data, informed by ground realities, to reimagine justice and creation of impactful knowledge resources, as well as the challenges faced.

What you can expect from the talk?

1. How to conduct evidence-based research and advocacy in the context of child protection despite limited data sources.
2. What is “evidence” and the value of using multiple methods for data collection
3. Challenges related to access to data and its dissemination, especially in sensitive issues, and how it can be managed

We invite anyone curious about data and drama in the context of social justice and child protection to join us .

About the Speaker:
Swagata Raha is a lawyer with 20 years of experience of researc, capacity building, and teaching in the area of human rights, juvenile justice, child rights, and restorative practices. She is working as Director, Research and Co-Director Restorative Practices at Enfold Trust in Bangalore, India .