Ranchi, Sep 23: The National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, on Wednesday began a two-day state-level consultation on “Gender and Legal Justice”, bringing together legal experts, policymakers, academicians, social workers, NGOs and civil society representatives to deliberate on challenges related to gender justice and access to law.
The consultation, being held on September 23-24, has been organised by NUSRL’s Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in collaboration with The Alternate Space.
Kiran Kumari Pasi, IAS, Director, Department of Women, Child Development and Social Security, Government of Jharkhand, attended the inaugural session as the chief guest, while Khadija Farooqui, Director, The Alternate Space, was the guest of honour.
NUSRL Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Ashok R. Patil, Registrar Prof. (Dr.) Dharminder Kumar and Assistant Professor Dr. Julian Seal Pasari were also present during the inaugural session.
Addressing the gathering, Patil highlighted the university’s efforts to create meaningful platforms connecting law, society and justice. He also underlined initiatives aimed at promoting legal awareness and contributing to discussions on social justice in Jharkhand.
Pasi spoke about women’s rights, legal empowerment and changing social attitudes, while highlighting the continuing social, physical and psychological challenges faced by women in different parts of the country.
“Questions of gender justice cannot remain confined to academic or legal debates; they must ultimately translate into accountable institutions, effective public policy and meaningful access to justice,” Pasi said.
She said the issues emerging from the consultation would be examined with the objective of identifying possible solutions and added that its outcomes would remain an important point of consideration for stakeholders.
The consultation is focusing on the gap between formal legal equality and the lived realities of gender justice, including meaningful access to justice and representation and voice within legal institutions.
Participants will also discuss how legal education, public institutions and civil society can work together to bridge the gap between legal provisions and social realities.
The organisers said the two-day programme is intended to promote constructive dialogue, knowledge-sharing and new collaborations among stakeholders working in the field of gender and social justice.
The consultation will also explore possible pathways towards more accessible, responsive and sensitive legal and institutional frameworks, with the organisers expressing hope that it will strengthen collective commitment to a legal system that is not only formally equal but also accessible, sensitive, dignified and just.
