Ms. Neelam Chaturvedi

Neelam Chaturvedi is a prominent women’s rights activist and human rights defender with over 40 years of experience promoting gender justice and social equality in India. She is the Founder and General Secretary of Sakhi Kendra, Kanpur’s first women’s crisis intervention and empowerment center, and a Founder-Member of the National Alliance of Women (NAWO).

 

From the age of 14, Neelam has actively fought against caste and gender discrimination, domestic violence, and sexual harassment. She has played a key role in shaping and advocating for important laws, including the Domestic Violence Act (2005), the Workplace Sexual Harassment Act (2013), and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act (2013).

 

Under her leadership, Sakhi Kendra has supported more than 48,000 survivors of violence and empowered thousands of marginalized women through counseling, legal aid, leadership training, and livelihood programs. She also served as one of the five national Gender Specialists at the National Commission for Women for eight years.

 

Honored as the “Iron Lady” by CSJM University and listed among the Top 10 Human Rights Defenders (2009–2019), Neelam has represented India at global forums including the Beijing World Conference on Women (1995), Beijing +5 (2000), and international dialogues with Amnesty International.

Her lifelong work continues to inspire justice, equality, and dignity in society.