“The Act will further protect the rights of the women and strengthen them to fight against the menace of violence,” said Mr. Mir Saifuallah while inaugurating the two-day international seminar Gender Justice: A Way Forward organized by The School of Legal Studies, Central University of Kashmir (CUK) in collaboration with The Indian Institute of Public Administration (J&K Branch) held at Gandhi Bhawan University of Kashmir.

The inaugural session was presided over by CUK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdul Wahid Qureshi, while as eminent criminologist, Professor B. B. Pandey, Dean School of Legal Studies, Prof. Mehraj-ud-Din, Vice-Chairman, IIPA JK Chapter, Mr. A M Wattali and CUK Registrar, Prof. Muhammad Afzal Zargar were also present.

Mir Saifullah in his inaugural address referred to the provisions of Naya Kashmir manifesto adopted in 1944 wherein issues of gender Justice was raised and addressed. Highlighting the importance of holding legal aid clinics to aware women, he emphasized on the conduct of more such camps.

In his presidential address, CUK Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdul Wahid related the gender injustice to the origin of human race. Citing examples from religious books and various practices in vogue in certain cultures, he underlined the long standing gender bias. He further elaborated upon the impact of the conflicts on the issues of gender Justice in particular. Emphasizing on the delegate to discuss the theme of the seminar threadbare, he asked the organisers to consolidate the opinion as a set of recommendations to the policy makers.

In his key note address, Professor B. B Pandey said that women continue to be at the receiving end

since ages and there has been no considerable progress in the field of gender justice in spite of so many legislations. In India alone, more than 40 percent of child marriages take place. The situation in the west too is alarming. United States, which sermonizes the world on gender justice accounts for 27 percent of crimes committed against women, he said adding in UK, crimes against women constitute 28 percent of the total crimes against women.

IIPA JK Chapter, Vice-Chairman, Mr. A M Wattali urged the government to implement the laws for punishing those indulging in violence against women in letter and spirit in the Jammu and Kashmir. Dean School of Legal Studies, Prof. Mehraj-ud-Din, welcomed the guests and introduced the theme of the seminar.

Registrar of Central University of Kashmir, Professor Muhammad Afzal Zargar presented vote of thanks and congratulated the students of the department for coming up with a grandeur programme to highlight the issues of gender justice, particularly in conflict ridden societies, a glimpse of which has been observed by the State of J&K . He appreciated the tireless effort put by the faculty and students of the School of Legal Studies in making this event a success despite limited resources and facilities at their disposal.

A Brainstorming session preceded the Pre- inaugural session where many papers were presented out of them some papers pertained to problems of women in conflict situations and gender depravity.

In the session, Prof Mehraj-ud-Din Mir, presented a paper on gender justice and human rights.