Seminar organized at Galgotias University on “Gender Justice: Dual Path Approach to Disability Rights”
Disability Rights Clinic Galgotias University, School of Law, conducted a symposium on April 6, 2024, focusing on the intersection of Gender Justice and Disability Rights through the lens of the “Twin-Track” approach. This approach acknowledges the double discrimination faced by women and girls with disabilities based on both gender and disability, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and policies to address their unique needs.
The internal dignitaries Dr. Renu Luthra, Advisor to the Chancellor, Dr. Mallikarjuna Babu, the Vice Chancellor facilitated the Symposium highlighting its objective. Prof. (Dr.) Naresh Vats, the Dean of School of Law welcomed the Dignitaries guests and speakers.
Dr. Smitha Nizar, Associate Dean, School of Law and the Convenor of the Symposium unveiled the symposium theme to let the Chief Guest Adv. Ragenth Basant, Senior Advocate of Supreme Court of India to delivered the keynote address on “Litigation Experiences: Disability and Gender Rights.” He shared the visible discrimination in the judgments due to lack of sensitization towards Disability Rights Perspective. The symposium featured talks covering various aspects, including Gender-based Violence and Disability, Intersectionality of Gender and Disability, the Patriarchal Nature of Disability Rights Movement in India, the Cultural Construction of Disability and Gender, Affirmative action and the Role of SDGs and NEP 2020, Sexuality and Disability constructs from a Legal perspective, and Language Issues in constructing Gender and Disability Justice.
Ms. Anna Clements, an International Disability Rights Consultant in the USA delivered an online talk on Gender based Violence and its veracity for women with disabilities. She also declared the Constitution of DRC and thus it came it force on April 6, 2024. The first copy of the DRC Constitution was received by Dr. Renu Luthra from Dr. Shivani to partake in the State responsibility to edify and educate all with Disability Rights Paradigm.
The other chief Guest, Dr. Shivani Gupta, the Senior Manager of Inclusive Design Global Disability Innovation Hub, Delhi delivered a thoughtful talk about how the social barriers are the real barriers for people with disabilities, but not the disability.
In continuation of this Dr. Nandini, a disability rights scholar and writer delivered an online talk on the Cultural Construction of Gender and Dyability. According to her the condition of disability adds to the vulnerability of a women in Indian society, which is highly patriarchal. Following this, Dr. Sachin Sharma, Associate Professor of Law and Director of CDSH at HPNLU Shimla talked about Sexuality and Disability constructs from a Legal perspective and he provoked a rethinking on the stereotypic attitude we persist in disability.
Prof. Jagdish, an Associate Professor of Hindu College, Delhi University engaged the students to think about the way in which disability is treated as a justified reason for discrimination and to discard life with disabilities. Thereafter, Prof. Ram Niwas, a Professor of English from Kurukshetra University discussed about the linguistic discrimination prevails to refer gender and disability. He quoted the example of using the pronoun ‘He’ alone in every literature, which is very common for referring people with disabilities as well. The expert talk was concluded by Prof. Sushama Sharma, from Kurukshetra University who pondered the affirmative action and the role of SDGs and NEP 2020 to plan for Inclusiveness for People with Disabilities.
The symposium aimed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities, share practices, advocate for policy changes, and empower them to claim their rights and participate fully in society. The Symposium also reflected a committed goal of the University to achieve Reduced Inequality, the SDG -10 a cardinal commitment.
Overall, the symposium represented the People with Disabilities and the University’s earnest efforts towards achieving Equality for Disability. The symposium promised to be a thought-provoking and engaging platform exploring the critical intersection of Gender Justice and Disability Rights, offering insights and strategies for promoting inclusivity and equality.
