CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR (CUK) TO HOLD 2-DAY SEMINAR ON GENDER JUSTICE

Central University of Kashmir (CUK) is organizing a two-day international seminar themed “Gender Justice: A Way Forward.”

A CUK statement on Monday said the seminar starting on October 23 will be held by the varsity’s School of Legal Studies in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (J&K Branch) at Gandhi Bhawan of Kashmir University. “Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Saifullah will be the Chief Guest while as CUK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdul Wahid, will preside over the function which would begin at 11 AM,” the statement said Eighty contributors from diverse fields of knowledge and scholars of different dispositions will be participating in the seminar. “The participants will be largely from India and some are expected from abroad.”

“The participants will deliberate on several themes including gender and law, gender and society, gender and religion, gender and education, gender and media, gender and economics, gender and politics, apart from inaugural and valedictory sessions,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the various topics on the focus of discussions in the seminar would be depravity in conflict situations, Permanent Resident Disqualification Bill, Domestic Violence, Women and Property Rights, Gendered Violence against Women in Kashmir, Eve-Teasing and Molestation, Delhi gang rape case, Islamic perspective on status of women and several others. The overall program would include a brainstorming session and nine working sessions.

“Keynote address will be delivered by the reputed criminologist, M. M. Pandey, former Dean and Head of Law faculty University of Delhi,” the statement said adding “on the concluding day, J&K State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, President, Justice (Retd.), B A Kirmani will deliver the valedictory address while as Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof. Talat, will preside over the function.”

A bill seeking amendments to criminal laws for providing more protection to women in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be passed during the Winter Session of the State Legislature, Law Minister Mir Saifullah said.

"The Criminal Law Amendment Bill-2013 is a comprehensive piece of legislation and once passed will further strengthen the existing laws for protection of rights and justice to women in the state," Mir said at a seminar here on Wednesday.

Mir was speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day international Seminar on 'Gender Justice: A way forward' organised by School of Legal Studies, Central University of Kashmir.

The Minister said concept of gender justice was in the minds of the framers of "Naya Kashmir Vision Document", which laid down the foundation for economic, social, educational and political rights of women in the state, following which the State Legislature adopted these principles in the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.

The State Government has over the years enacted several laws and initiated important measures to empower women and address the under-representation of women in various fields, he added.

He said besides enjoying equal rights at par with men, special provisions against abuse, violence, hooliganism and other forms of misconduct against women have already been enacted.

The Minister said women, who are unable to approach courts due to financial constraints, are entitled for free legal aid and support in any court of the State.

He said that women, under the Panchayat Raj Act, have been provided reservation in the Panchayats besides two women members were nominated in the State Legislative Assembly through reservation, making State Legislature the only in the entire country to have such reservation quota.

The Minister said women must acquaint themselves with laws and acts that exist for their empowerment and protection.