CONCEPT NOTE
TWO-DAY VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON, “GLOBAL
RAMIFICATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS:- CHALLENGES AND
THE WAY FORWARD”.
DATES:-
10.04.2021 AND 11.04.2021 Saturday and Sunday
- INTRODUCTION
International Human Rights (IHRs) play an instrumental role in promoting inclusivity and
in fostering the principles of substantive rule of law. Since years, IHRs have been critical in not
only creating a level-playing field for those voices that were long unheard but also in developing
a normative framework that guides the social, economic, political and legal discourses. The moral
and ethical foundations of the discourse on IHRs are based on natural rights, which have
consolidated over the years and have found expression through universal, regional and municipal
human rights instruments starting from the Magna Carta to the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights to the most recent ones such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Central to these instruments is the principle Bonum est faciendum et prosequendum, et malum
vitandum, which means good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided. In a way, the
moot purpose of the instruments is to promote and protect certain rights that are fundamental to
the holistic development of individuals in a given society. Even under the aegis of customary
international law, it is a non-derogable legal obligation or opinio juris of each state to not only
respect, protect and promote human rights but also ensure non-interference with those rights.
However, states have seemingly failed to enforce, both vertically and horizontally, the
international human rights norms created through the IHR instruments or through customary
international law or through decisions rendered by the global, regional and municipal courts. There
is glaring evidence that on many occasions states have failed to carry out the human rights
obligations bestowed on them. Even worse, quite a few of these states have apparently interfered with the individual enjoyment of rights and fundamental freedoms. Resultantly, the justice delivery
systems in these states have often been deprived of the privilege of making use of the advanced
and nuanced applications of IHRs. It is an unfortunate and shocking fact that IHR violations,
especially in the perspective of vulnerable individuals and social groups, have become the new
normal. And this is despite the fact that Article 1(3) read with Article 55(c) of the UN Charter
creates a non-derogable obligation on nation states to promote and encourage respect for human
rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or
religion. In a nutshell, the enforcement and implementation of the IHR norms that are created
either through universal, regional and provincial human rights instruments or through customary
international practice or through the courts are in a deteriorating condition. But since states’
sovereignty and self-determinism require to be balanced with the concern of the world community
about the identification and enforcement of human rights, a more nuanced approach is required to
address the global ramifications of IHRs.
- ABOUT ADAMAS UNIVERSITY AND THE SCHOOL OF LAW AND JUSTICE
Adamas University was created in 2015 vide the Adamas University Act, 2014. Since its
inception, it has become the harbinger of change, creating spaces that foster academic dialogues
and discussions. Being gifted with a flamboyant campus and a dynamic workforce, Adamas has
been an epicenter of learning and academic exchanges and has taken every stride to redefine the
contours of higher education. Adamas is recognized by eminent bodies such as the University
Grants Commission, All India Council of Technical Education, Pharmacy Council of India,
National Council for Teacher Education and the Bar Council of India. To its merit, it has won
accolades such the Emerging University of India, which was conferred by the 17th World
Education Summit and Awards, 2020. In addition, it has also won among other honors the Times
Best Practices Award, 2020 for the best practices adopted by it during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Adamas University has partnered with more than 50 academic institutions of eminence. A few of
the prominent global academic partners include Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, University of
Genoa, Italy, Far Eastern University, The Philippines, Capital University, USA, University of
Warsaw, Poland and University of Malaya, Malaysia, etc. The university is gifted with nine
schools, which have played a crucial role in taking the institution to new heights.In conjunction with the mandates of the university profile, the School of Law and Justice
(SOLJ) was established in 21/06/2015 with a view towards imparting justice-oriented education.
Since its establishment, the School has been the focal point of legal learning through the advanced
use and application of pedagogy and andragogy. Apart from expediting legal learning, SOLJ has
also been taking a lead role in conducting events and programmes not only to promote justice
education but also to facilitate competency-based professional training. Even during the Covid-19
pandemic, SOLJ had left no stones unturned to make the unachievable possible. It had successfully
conducted a series of events, including webinars and web lectures, to facilitate interchange of
academic ideas and to promote holistic legal learning. SOLJ is a proud member of LSAC Global
Law Alliance, a consortium of prestigious colleges and universities that provides the highest
quality legal education to India’s future legal minds. In fact, SOLJ is a vital ally to LSAC Global
and they work together to advance the cause of justice by promoting quality access and equity in
the Indian legal education sector. In furtherance of the inalienable bond both share, SOLJ offers
admissions to students on the basis of their LSAT India scores along with other criterias with
various scholarship opportunities.
- THE PROPOSED PROGRAMME AND ITS OBJECTIVE(S)
In view of the explicit enforcement and implementation gaps in IHR and in light of the
seeming flaws in the IHR laws, SOLJ, Adamas University considers it apt to discuss and deliberate
on the operational pros and cons of IHR laws and their bearing on the justice delivery system.
Therefore, SOLJ intends to organize a two-day Virtual International Conference on Global
Ramifications of International Human Rights: Challenges and the Way Forward on 10
th and
11
th April, 2021. The proposed programme intends to delve into the role of IHR laws in promoting
and protecting fundamental freedoms and the right to dignity, the human rights issues involved in
the application and enforcement of IHR norms, the issues related to the changing roles of IHR
institutions, the role of IHR norms in promoting the rights of indigenous and vulnerable individuals
and groups, etc.
The purpose of this Conference is to engage students of social sciences in general and law
in particular to debate and discuss on the possible implications and consequences of IHRs. The
main objective of the programme will be to consolidate the existing and futuristic jurisprudence
on IHRs and their bearing on the overall administration of justice. Another important objective of the programme will be to offer a platform to all the relevant stakeholders to share views on critical
matters governing the IHR laws operating at various levels.
- THE SUB-THEMES OF THE VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
The main sub-themes of the Conference are as follows:
(1) Role of IHR in Securing Equality and Dignity
(2) IHR and Gender Justice
(3) Relevance of International and Human Rights Conventions in assuring Right to Life
(4) Extent of Enforcement of the Spirit of HR by NGOs working for the cause
(5) IHR for Indigenous People and Vulnerable Groups
(6) IHR for Stateless Persons, Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Internally Displaced People
(7) IHR and Democracy
(8) Trafficking in Persons and the Role of IHR
(9) IHR and South Asia: A Structural-functional Perspective
- PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
The two-day Virtual International Conference will be held online on 10th and 11th April,SOLJ intends to use either Zoom or MS-Teams or any other convenient online platform to
conduct the two-day Virtual International Conference. The links to the online platforms will be
shared with the guests, paper presenters and participants in due course of time.
Distinguished Judges, academicians and practitioners and experts of the field of
international human rights law, international relations and area studies will preside over the
Conference sessions. A detailed schedule of the Virtual International Conference will be e-mailed
to the participants and paper presenters a few days ahead of the programme.
The Virtual International Conference will be open for paper presentations. Up to 36
presenters may present their papers during the event. Undergraduate and postgraduate students of law and social sciences, researchers, teachers, enforcement officials, judicial officers, etc., are
invited to present their papers in the Conference. Apart from the paper presenters, participants may
register for the event. The organizers may accept up to 500 participants on a first-come first-served
basis. Paper presenters and participants will be issued presentation/participation certificates at the
end of the programme. Certificates will not be issued to those who are absent.
6. CONFERENCE TIMING
Timings –
Day 1 – 10.04.2021 (05:00 pm onwards) (IST)
Day 2 – 11.04.2021 (04:00 pm onwards) (IST)
- REGISTRATION FEE
Registration is free for both paper presenters and participants. Registration for both paper
presenters and participants is ongoing and will be accepted on First Come First Served basis.
- ABSTRACT REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS
Abstracts received will be securitized through a process (possibly a blind review process)
and the selection of abstracts will be done through a pre-laid criterion. Only those whose abstracts
are selected will be notified by the specified date, as mentioned below. The decision of the
Organizing Committee with regard to the acceptance or rejection of abstracts shall be final.
- ABSTRACT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
The following are the abstract submission guidelines:
(1) Abstracts must be sent to: Mr. Nilanjan Chakraborty, Assistant Professor, at
nilanjan1.chakraborty@adamasuniversity.ac.in, with cc to
suvashree1.ghosh@adamasuniversity.ac.in (Ms. Suvashree Ghosh, Assistant
Professor), on or before 28
th February, 2021, till 11.59 pm. The abstracts should not
reveal any details of the presenter. The e-mail accompanying the abstract must specify
(a) Name of the Presenter, including any joint presenter (only one co-author is allowed)
(b) Contact Details such as mobile number and email address (c) Institution (d) Degree Pursuing/Degree Completed (e) Topic of the article. (2) Any plagiarized content will render the abstract liable to rejection.
(3) The abstract must be within 300 words.
(4) The abstract must have a title and a sub-theme.
(5) The abstract must include at least five keywords that are relevant to the article.
- INTENDED OUTCOME OF THE VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
The Conference intends to equip the students and research scholars of social sciences and
law with the knowledge and applicability of IHR laws. Apart from the students, practising lawyers,
human rights activists, enforcement officials, etc., will immensely benefit from the programme by
developing a comprehensive idea about the present state of IHRs across various jurisdictions and
the way ahead.
- IMPORTANT DATES
• Initiation of Registration (for paper presenters and participants): Ongoing (First Come First
Served basis)
• Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: 28/02/2021, till 11.59 pm
• Notification of Acceptance: 07/03/2021, 11.59 pm
• Deadline for Submission of Full Paper: 04/04/2021, till 11.59 pm
• Date of International Conference: 10/04/2021 and 11/04/2021
- ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
(1) Patron-in-Chief: Prof. Samit Ray, Hon’ble Chancellor, Adamas University.
(2) Executive Patron: Hon’ble Vice-chancellor, Adamas University.
(3) Director: Prof. (Dr.) Jyotsna Yagnik, Director, SOLJ and Pro-vice-chancellor, Adamas University.
(4) Conveners: Dr. Ripon Bhattacharjee, Associate Professor and Head of the Department, School of
Law and Justice, Adamas University, E-mail id: ripon.bhattacharjee@adamasuniversity.ac.in. &
Ms. Jayita Moulick Assistant Professor, School of Law and Justice, Adamas University, Email id:-jayita.moulick@adamasuniversity.ac.in
(5) Co-conveners: All Faculty Members.
Registration Link for the Conference:
- For further inquiry about Registration, you can contact –
(1) Ms. Shubhi Mack, Visiting Faculty, School of law and Justice, Adamas University, E-mail
id: shubhi.mack@adamasuniversity.ac.in.
(2) Mr. Shivam Pandey, Assistant Professor, School of Law and Justice, Adamas University, E-
mail id: shivam1.pandey@adamasuniversity.ac.in.