On 29th September 2024, at the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) New Delhi Cluster Office, Taniya Laskar, a native of Doyapur village, Udharbond Tehsil, Cachar District, was honored at the prestigious 8th Martha Farrell Awards 2024 for Excellence in Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality. Out of 251 nominations from 24 states and union territories of India, she was among the four winners, receiving the Special Jury Award (Individual).
Taniya Sultana Laskar is a feminist lawyer from Barak Valley, Assam. Practicing at the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Cachar, Silchar, she provides pro-bono legal services to grassroots communities, making justice more accessible for marginalized groups. She also engages in legal interventions, research, and building legal literacy in these communities.
“I have lived in Assam all my life, including my journey to becoming a lawyer. This award inspires me to give back even more to society. I call upon young people to work for marginalized communities,” said Taniya Laskar. She added, “We need more organizations to be accessible and welcoming to women. Wherever I work, I ensure they have a gender-inclusive policy and an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in place.”
“Taniya has been working earnestly on women’s issues, and her efforts are crucial for the Barak region,” said Nirmal Kumar Das, former Vice Chairperson, Barak Human Rights Protection Committee.
Taniya’s former law teacher, Rumi Dhar, also shared her pride in Taniya’s achievements, stating, “Since her LLB days, Taniya has been sincere, dedicated, and focused on her work. She was an obedient and hardworking student, with strong opinions on social issues. I feel proud to have been her teacher.”
Taniya has worked across six districts of Assam (Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, and Nogaon), addressing various human rights issues. To date, she has counseled over 1,000 survivors of violence and filed 40 domestic violence cases. She is also the co-founder of Sexuality and Gender Equality (SAGE), a queer rights organization.
“This award is a recognition of the grassroots work being done for women’s empowerment and gender equality. We are elated that Taniya received the Special Jury Award, and we believe she will continue to inspire many others,” said Nandita Pradhan Bhatt, Director, Martha Farrell Foundation.
