Organised by Justice and Care, in association with School of Law, Rights & Constitutional Governance, TISS, and Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW)

Rationale

Studies show that India has the highest number of child brides in the world. It is estimated that 27% of girls in India are married before their 18th birthday.1 Child Marriage is recognised as a gross violation of Child Rights, globally – a violation that has a negative impact on the physical growth, health, mental and emotional development of a Child. While both girls and boys are impacted by the practice of Child Marriages, the number of girls that are affected by this phenomenon is a much larger number.

Although National/State data do not make provisions to show the direct relations between Child Marriage and Human Trafficking, individual studies have shown that Child Marriage is one of the many excuses used to traffic young children.

Scope of the Consultation

The School of Law Rights and Constitutional Governance (SLRCG) has been has been working in partnership with Justice and Care and Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) since 2015.

Justice and Care, as part of its policy initiatives to fight Human Trafficking, has been commissioned by the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) to conduct a research on “Child Marriage vis a vis Trafficking : Maharashtra”. As part of this research, Justice and Care, in collaboration with School of Law Rights and Constitutional Governance (SLRCG), TISS, and the CSO Coalition to end Child Marriages in India plan to host a consultation on the said topic.

Partnerships for the Consultation

Justice and Care is an active member of the CSO Coalition to end Child Marriages in India, working closely with the Human Rights and Child Rights Commissions. Justice and Care proposes to host this consultation in close partnership with the following members:

1. School of Law, TISS
2. Maharashtra State Commission for Women
3. Members of the CSO Coalition to end Child Marriages in India

The objective of such a partnership is to ensure the involvement of a plethora of experienced individuals working in the sector, to make discussions reach its objective and contribute positively to the above mentioned research.

Objective of the Consultation

The objective of the Consultation is two fold in nature:

1. Positive contribution to the above mentioned research on “Child Marriage vis a vis Trafficking: Maharashtra”.
2. Contribution to the proposed National Conference on Ending Child Marriages - A conference to be hosted by the CSO Coalition to end Child Marriages in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commissions.

Proposed Agenda

The layout of consultation proposed as follows:

1. Panel Discussions on Child Marriage vis a vis Trafficking: Maharashtra”:
   
   • Child Marriage as an excuse for Trafficking
   • Trafficking for the purpose of Child Marriage
   • Compulsory Registration of Marriages and Resultant impacts on tracing victims of trafficking
   • Models to provide solutions for effective change
   • Potential Legal and Social Policy Changes in the existing Framework
2. Research Presentation on the above mentioned topics.
   Selected abstracts will be given a chance to present their research and findings at the consultation.

Who Can Participate

Academicians, Students, NGOs, Social Workers, Bureaucrats, Professionals, Researchers etc. from various fields of law and/or social work, allied subjects and multi-disciplinary fields are invited to contribute to the Consultation.

About Justice and Care

Justice and Care is an anti human trafficking organisation working in collaboration with the Government to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate victims of human trafficking. Further, the organisation works with the Government to prosecute perpetrators of this crime. Justice and Care also undertakes policy advocacy initiatives aimed at improving the interface of these victims with the Criminal Justice System.

About School of Law, TISS, Maharashtra

In pursuance of the TISS mission of creating a people-centered and just society that promotes equality, justice and human rights for all, the School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance (SLRCG) was set up at the Mumbai Campus in June 2012. The vision and mission of the School is to advance socially relevant legal education and promote human rights education. The School aims to promote socio-legal research, teaching and outreach focusing on access to justice and human rights education with the perspective of bringing social science/social work into legal research and teachings, policy analysis, advocacy and legislative reforms which is first of its kind in India.

Proposed Date and Venue

Date: 24th April 2018

Venue: Library Hall, TISS, Mumbai

Time: 9.30 am to 5.00 pm

Guidelines for submission of Abstracts

• Abstracts to be submitted by Academicians, Students NGOs, Social Workers, Bureaucrats, Professionals, Researchers etc.
• The submissions should be original and unpublished.
• Co-authorship is allowed up to 2 persons.
• The abstract may be drafted keeping in view the present legal developments, societal impact, case studies, etc., if any.
• The abstract may entail 3-4 keywords.
• All the abstracts will be subject to blind peer review. 20 best abstracts will be shortlisted for a presentation of the research and findings at Consultation on Child Marriage vis a vis Trafficking: Maharashtra.
• The best presentation will be selected for a cash prize and a possible opportunity of publishing of the paper.
• The abstract should be accompanied by a cover page comprising of a brief profile of the author including name, current academic qualification, designation, institution/organization, e-mail address, contact number and postal address for correspondence.
• The maximum word limit for abstracts is 500 words.

Abstracts may be submitted to the Conveners of the Consultation:

Ms. Saumya Rai: saumya.rai@tiss.edu

Ms. Nancy Sara: nancy.rajan@justiceandcare.org

Important Dates

• Last date to send abstracts: 12th April 2018
• Selection of abstracts: 16th April 2018

Registration Fee and Download Registration Form

• No Registration fee will be charged for presentation or participation of the consultation.
• Participants will be selected on First Come first serve basis.

For Further information contact :

Ms. Nancy Sara, Justice and Care, Contact: +91 7045656372, nancy.rajan@justiceandcare.org

Ms. Saumya Rai, Assistant Professor, SLRCG, TISS, Contact: +91 9555637666, saumya.rai@tiss.edu