Biography

With over eight years immersed in social and criminal justice, Avni brings a fervent commitment to advancing human rights, gender equity, and women's empowerment. Her career is underpinned by a wealth of empirical and on-the-ground research conducted throughout her education and professional journey, enriching her initiatives with a deep and nuanced understanding of the issues at hand. Avni's extensive experience includes significant contributions to policymaking, research, and advocacy, shaped by her work with prominent NGOs and government bodies, including the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. At NCW, as a legal expert, she contributed to law reviews and led capacity-building efforts, particularly focusing on gender sensitization of police officers. Avni spearheaded initiatives aimed at addressing gender issues, such as skill enhancement courses for women in institutional and custodial settings in collaboration with the National Council for Vocational Training and national training modules for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Avni has also been instrumental in conceptualizing and implementing national digital literacy programs in collaboration with Facebook, targeting women students across India. She has been part of several national-level inquiry committees that recorded violations of women’s rights and conducted inspections of state institutions housing women. During her engagement with the Supreme Court Committee on Prison Reforms at the Ministry of Home Affairs, she contributed to the development of research tools, conducted custodial inspections, trained prison officials, and advised on policy reforms for prison governance. Her work with Praja Foundation, a Mumbai-based organization, included research on governance and advocacy, training elected representatives, and fostering connections between community groups, NGOs, media, and government officials. Passionate about linking gender rights with the criminal justice system, Avni has voiced her insights at numerous public forums, including delivering a TEDx talk on women in institutional and custodial settings. Avni’s career is marked by a blend of academic rigour, policy expertise, and a commitment to tangible social change.