Post by: Eojin Yoo
Even before I board on a flight to India, I had some
obstacles in the process of understanding Indian society.
First, I suddenly had to postpone my travel due to the
change in visa policy, and I ended up arriving in India three weeks later than original
scheduled. It was another chance to learn how to manage administrative work in
India. I was also reminded of the reason why I should go to India, giving up
other internship opportunities for a longer time in Korea. The three-week delay
was not a detour but just another path for me to learn something different than
I expected. At least, I learned that things might not work as I think I
deserve.
Second, I received assignments from India for the
three-week and started researching at home. It was mainly about the Dalit
Christians who are in the untouchable position but excluded from the benefits
they deserve. However, it was not easy to communicate inquiries or feedback
regarding my work and the result I produce seemed immaterial. Since I couldn’t
see what India looked like, I had to use more imagination to fill up the
stories that seemed too obscure.
Finally, I had to confront the fact I am more exposed
to security problems in India because I am a woman. I decided to reserve an
expensive flat to ensure my safety in the city. My family did not want me to
travel to India, and I felt guilty to make people around me worried. Now, I am
even surprised by how safe I feel in Delhi because I could tell many campaigns
and social policy supports women’s safety and independence.
So far, my internship in India is very insightful and
fruitful.
From ADF India, I am learning how beautiful it is when
a Christian community loves each other inward and dedicates to outward societal
justice. Every day, I feel like I belong here in daily morning devotion and
lunch break time.
The way they treat interns and assign works always
encourages me to approach pending cases voluntarily. They invite me to follow
the court hearing whenever there is, and I can access the case materials before
the visit. I have already observed the Family Court, the District Court, the
High Court, and the Supreme Court in India, and now I can tell from the
slightest difference like the number of Judges to the bigger frame, such as the
power given to the Courts under the Constitution.
They are also a good friend who has professional legal
knowledge regarding societal problems. I had many questions to ask from the
moment I arrive in India, such as homeless people living under the pier,
women’s right campaign stickers on many cars, or even about the election
candidates. They always answer in a dynamic perspective to enhance my
understanding of Indian society.
Furthermore, I am doing the categorization work to
establish the Christian persecution database. In Delhi, there are quite many
churches and it seems like no one is bothered by other people’s different
religions. However, I could find the cases far away from Delhi that there is
still severe persecution against Christians in the suburban region far away
from the central city.
I feel very privileged to work in ADF India, where
extraordinary people deal with diverse kinds of human rights cases. Just in my
first two weeks, I supported cases against the caste system, domestic violence,
abortion, rape, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, and a false charge of
kidnapping for Bible Camp. I’m glad I found that the principle of human rights
also expands into corporate law, and these matters are not far away from my
legal career wherever and whatever I specialized in.
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