Justice-related work in Goa is often carried out in isolation, with communities, organisations and institutions addressing similar social issues without sufficient coordination. This observation emerged during the Design for Justice programme held at the Museum of Goa (MOG) in January 2026 as part of the MOG Sundays series. The two-day programme created a shared space for dialogue, reflection and collaboration among stakeholders working across Goa’s justice landscape.
Bringing together civil society organisations, students, designers, researchers and practitioners, the programme focused on how people-centred and design-led approaches can help shape more inclusive and accessible justice systems. Discussions centred on mapping existing justice-related efforts in the state, sharing community-led interventions and identifying opportunities for collaboration across sectors.
Aditi Nayak, research associate at Justice Adda, explained that the programme grew out of reflections following the 2023 Design for Justice Conference in Goa. While there is a significant amount of justice-related work happening across the state, the absence of shared platforms often leads to fragmented efforts. The aim, she said, was to slow down, bring these efforts into conversation with one another and begin identifying shared priorities rooted in lived community experiences.
Participants presented initiatives addressing a wide range of issues, including environmental protection, land rights, mental health, gender justice, tribal rights, governance and the social impact of emerging technologies. Although the focus areas varied, many initiatives were grounded in everyday realities — from coastal communities responding to ecological degradation to residents navigating governance and legal processes that directly affect their lives.
The programme featured voices from law, academia, human rights, environmental advocacy and technology. Speakers such as Asawari Nayak, advocate Aurobindo Gomes Pereira, human rights activist Cyril Fernandes, environmental lawyer Sreeja Chakraborty, technology practitioner Karn Malhotra, Maya de Souza and former Children’s Court judge Sayonara Tellis Laad shared insights drawn from their professional and community-based work. Their discussions examined how justice is encountered beyond courtrooms and policies, in daily interactions with systems and institutions.
Drawing from Justice Adda’s approach, Aditi highlighted the importance of focusing on how people experience justice in practice. Visual tools, storytelling and design methods, she noted, can help simplify complex legal information, making it more accessible and usable for communities, and bridging gaps between institutions and the people they are meant to serve.
A recurring theme throughout the sessions was the understanding of justice as an ecosystem rather than the responsibility of any single sector. Participants pointed to challenges such as limited resources, barriers within governance systems, difficulties in sustaining long-term work and insider–outsider dynamics. At the same time, the conversations underscored the need for better coordination, shared resources and sustained engagement among communities, civil society organisations, institutions and young practitioners.
Organisers said the programme aimed to lay the groundwork for future collaboration, with the relationships and ideas formed during the two days expected to inform more coordinated, inclusive and community-responsive approaches to justice in Goa.
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