HNLU: International Seminar On "Rights Of Women To Sexual Health And Choices: A Jurisprudential Conundrum"

Established in 2003, Hidayatullah National Law University has completed the journey of more than one and half a decade. In such a short span of time, HNLU has carved out a niche in the realm of legal education across India and the legacy is soaring towards newer heights day by day. Named after the great legal luminary Justice Mohammed Hidayatullah, the University was established by the Government of Chhattisgarh under the Hidayatullah National University of Law, Chhattisgarh, Act (Act no.10 of 2003). HNLU is the sixth in the series of national law schools across India. HNLU has been included in the list of the universities maintained by the University Grants Commission under section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 and has been declared fit to receive central assistance in terms of the rules framed under section 12 (b) of the UGC Act, 1956. The University is recognized by the Bar Council of India under section 7 of the Advocates Act 1961.

Motto: Dharma Sansthapanartham meaning ‘for the sake of establishing the primacy of the laws of eternal values.

ABOUT NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN

The National Commission for Women was set up as a statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 with a mandate to advice the government on all policy matters affecting women in addition to reviewing legal and constitutional safeguards for women under section 10 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.

The Commission investigates and examines all the matters relating to women under the Constitution and other laws, and presents its report to the Central Government for the proper implementation.

The Commission undertakes promotional and educational research so as to suggest ways of ensuring due representation of women in all spheres and to identify factors responsible for impeding their advancement, such as, lack of access to housing and basic services, inadequate support services and technologies for reducing drudgery and occupational health hazards and for increasing their productivity.

CONCEPT NOTE

The issue of Women’s right to sexual health and choices and physical well being has always been a talking point for the Human Rights activists and lawyers. This issue has been neglected in most of the societies all over the world due to various reasons such as cultural, social, economic and political factors. Traditionally, Indian society has been patriarchal and male dominated. Conventionally, the role of women has been to manage the home and bear children. Women hardly had any say in making decisions relating to the bearing and number of children. Thus the issue of women’s sexual health and choices have been neglected since long.

There are various practices which have an impact on women’s health in general and sexual health in particular. For example, female genital mutilation is a practice followed in many communities and has an adverse impact on sexual health of women. It is also violation of right to privacy and personal liberty of women. The capacity of women to bear children makes her vulnerable to subjugation and exploitation only for reproductive purposes. So also the denial of any decision making power to women with respect to having children and the number and spacing of the children is a form of gender discrimination. Further the subject of abortion of fetus also raises controversial questions such as privacy rights of women as well as the rights of the unborn. Thus the issue of Women’s Right to sexual health and choices is engulfed in numerous controversies and jurisprudential questions. Though in the recent times there has been an increase in the awareness regarding women’s right to sexual health and choices, the controversies and jurisprudential questions are yet to be answered adequately. Though there are a number of international conventions and treaties which emphasize on the rights of women to sexual and reproductive health, the women are still not aware of their rights. The social milieu also creates unwarranted pressure and constraints in front of women population. In this backdrop the National Seminar aims to explore all these sociological and legal aspects so as to provide a pragmatic solution for resolving the conflicting issues and protecting the women's right to sexual health.

SUB-THEMES

• Women’s right to sexual health and wellbeing vis a vis the socio-cultural practices Constitutional perspectives on women's right to sexual health
• International Human Rights law and women's sexual health
• Protection of women's sexual health and legal framework in India
• Maternal health and laws in India
• International legal framework relating to Pre and Post-natal care
• Primary and secondary healthcare and state responsibility
• Reproductive rights and bodily rights of women
• Reproductive rights and choices of Commerical Sex Workers in India
• Right to abortion and jurisprudential Issues
• Rights of surrogate mothers: Social, ethical and legal issues
• Age of consent vis a vis sexual choice
• Rights of LGBT community and new challenges
• Judicial response towards women's reproductive rights
• Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) and rights of women

Note: The above sub themes are not exhaustive, the author(s) may select any other relevant issue giving a comprehensive and indispensable review of the main theme.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Research papers are invited from academicians, lawyers, medical professionals, Non-Governmental Organisations, Social Workers, research scholars and students.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

The abstract must be developed on A4-sheet in Word Document Format typed in Times New Roman in 12 font size with 1.5 line spacing in not more than 300 words. It should not contain more than Eight Keywords. The abstract should contain personal details of the author(s) in the order: Title of the paper, Name, Designation, Institute/ University/ College/Organization, Contact number, E-mail and address of correspondence of the author(s).

Kindly indicate the name of the main author for correspondence in case of more than one author. Acceptance of Abstract will be communicated via Email by 15 February 2023.

FULL PAPER SUBMISSION

• Submissions are to be made only in electronic form. The same may be e-mailed to ncwseminar2023@hnlu.ac.in
• in MS Word format along with a covering letter addressed to Organizing Secretary.
• Title must be written in bold, size 14 and centered margin. Original Manuscripts must be with 1.5 line spacing, font size 12 in Times New Roman and all margins: 1.5 inches (left) and 1 inch (top, right and bottom)
• Tables must be placed as part of the text. DO NOT attach tables at the end of the manuscript. Soft Manuscript must be submitted in Microsoft Word 2007 in the above format ONLY.
• Sub-Title must be written in bold, size 12 and left margin.
• Title of the tables/figure should be written on the top of the tables/figure. Times New Roman, font 12, Bold and centered margin.
• Footnoting should be done strictly according to Bluebook 20th Edition, Times New Roman, Font Size 10. Word limit of articles should be of 3000-5000 words (excluding references and footnotes).

RULES FOR PARTICIPATION

• No abstract or full paper shall be accepted after the last date of submission.
• Registration is mandatory on confirmation of acceptance of abstract.
• All the registered participants will be provided participation certificate.
• The selected papers of each session will be acknowledged and published in form of an edited book with ISBN.
• The Seminar will be conducted in hybrid mode.
• No in-absentia presentations will be allowed. At least one author must attend the seminar for presentation. The participants from Chhattisgarh must be present physically.
• Co-authorship is allowed only up-to two authors.
• All entries must be original and unpublished work of the author(s) and should not have been submitted for publication/published elsewhere in any form. Plagiarism more than 10% will not be entertained. All papers will be peer reviewed and evaluated on the basis of originality, research rigor, relevance to the seminar theme and contribution to theory and practice.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

KEY DATES

Abstract Submission February 10, 2023

Intimation of acceptance of Abstract February 15, 2023

Registration March 5, 2023

Final Paper Submission March 12, 2023

Seminar March 25, 2023

REGISTRATION FEE

No Registration fee will be charged.

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/XXogK6bnxoiKxQnu9

ACCOMODATION WITHIN CAMPUS

Accommodation will be provided only to participants from outside the State of Chhattisgarh on reasonable charges within the Campus.

No TA/DA will be provided to the participants by the organizers.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Organizing Secretary: Dr. Parvesh Kumar Rajput, Assistant Professor, Email: Parvesh.rajput@hnlu.ac.in

Faculty Convenor: Dr. Kaumudhi Chall, Associate Professor, (+91 9009274721)

Faculty Co-Convenor: Dr. Archanashyam Gharote, Assisstant professor, (+91 9822354605)

Student Convenor

SR Radhara Chaudhary (+91 98336081362)

Anand Kishore (+91 8447710877)

VENUE DETAILS

Main Auditorium, Hidayatullah National Law University Raipur Chhattisgarh India, Opposite Jungle Safari, Sector 40, Uparwara, Atal Nagar-Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh 492002.

For the brochure, click here