Conference on ‘Women-led Development’ by VES College of Law

About VES College of Law

Established in 2009 under the umbrella of Vivekanand Education Society, VES College of Law is an institution par excellence equipped with qualified full time teaching faculties focusing not only on sheer academic enrichment but also on building diverse skill sets within students.

As Judiciary is the backbone of a strong democratic nation, it is our Institution’s Mission to ensure the development of honest professionals with integrity, diligence and a national spirit. As a Premier Law School we are committed to being a leading institution in legal education, training, research, and innovation for producing innovative and ethical legal professionals who contribute to the advancement of justice and the rule of law on a global scale.

The institution’s mission is to provide a rigorous and comprehensive legal education that fosters critical thinking, ethical practice, and a deep understanding of the law. The institution aims to prepare students to excel in diverse legal careers and to engage meaningfully in societal issues through research, advocacy, and leadership.

Indian Council of Social Science Research Western Regional Centre (ICSSR – WRC)

The Indian Council of Social Science Research, an autonomous organization, was established by the Government of India in 1969. It, in turn, established the Western Regional Centre at Vidyanagari, University of Mumbai, with the approval of the Government of Maharashtra in January 1973, in collaboration with the University of Mumbai.

The WRC, in pursuance of its aims and objectives, conducts Research Methodology Courses, Academic Writing Programmes, Public Lectures, Seminars and Workshops, receives foreign scholars, administers Study Grants and Minor Research Projects. In addition to the seminars and lectures conducted by social scientists, WRC organizes and supports seminars, workshops, regional conferences, lectures etc. besides grating financial assistance to regional language journals in social sciences and related areas in different parts of the western region.

About the Conference

Vivekanand Education Society’s (VES) College of Law, Chembur, affiliated to University of Mumbai in association with Western Regional Centre of Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) is organising the National Conference on “Women-led Development – Legal Frameworks for Empowerment & Inclusion of Women”,  (Hybrid Mode) scheduled on 8th March 2025.

Eligibility

• Representatives of Government and Regulatory Bodies.
• Lawyers, Legal Professionals, Consultants, Practitioners.
• Academicians, Students, Research Scholars from the disciplines of Law, Finance, Business Management, Commerce, and Public Policy.
• Members of Research Institutes, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
• Women leaders, activists, and representatives of civil society organizations.

Theme

The theme for this conference is “Women led development- Legal frameworks for empowerment and inclusison of women.”

Women-led development is a transformative approach that places women at the forefront of societal progress. Legal systems play a pivotal role in enabling women’s empowerment by creating an environment where their rights are recognized, protected, and promoted. However, systemic barriers such as gender bias, unequal representation, and limited access to justice continue to hinder women’s full participation in development processes. This conference seeks to explore the intersection of women’s leadership and legal frameworks, emphasizing the role of laws and policies in driving gender equality, ensuring social justice, and fostering inclusive development.

Sub-themes

• Gender-Responsive Legal Frameworks – Exploring laws that promote gender equality in areas such as property rights, workplace policies, and public life.
• Legal Protections Against Violence – Examining the effectiveness of laws addressing domestic violence, sexual harassment, and human trafficking.
• Women’s Representation in Legal Systems – Highlighting the importance of women in judiciary roles, legal practice, and policymaking. 
• Equal Access to Justice – Identifying solutions to ensure marginalized women can access legal aid and resources.
• Reforms in Marriage, Family, and Personal Laws – Advocating for gender-equitable reforms in marriage, divorce, inheritance, and custody laws.
• Economic Empowerment through Legal Provisions – Discussing legal mechanisms for supporting women entrepreneurs, workers, and leaders in the economy.
• Legal Literacy and Awareness – Promoting education on legal rights among women, especially in rural and marginalized communities.
• Digital and Cyber Law Inclusion – Addressing legal challenges in the digital space, including cyber harassment and privacy rights of women.
• Intersectionality in Legal policies – Discussing inclusive legal approaches for women affected by caste, class, disability, and ethnicity.
• Role of Women in Development – Contribution of women in historical, social, economical, political, and cultural perspectives

Submission Details & Guidelines

• All manuscripts will be accepted in electronic format. The manuscript should be of 3000-5000 words approximately, excluding tables, graphs, charts.
• Abstract: The submitted manuscript must include an abstract of 200-300 words at the beginning, summarizing the structure and essence of the paper followed by a list of 5-6 key words which are to be written in alphabetical order. The abstract is not included in the word limit of the manuscript.
• Title: A separate title page should include an informative title, name(s), affiliations, address(es) of Institute/ Organization, corresponding address, email id(s), contact no(s) of all authors. The title of the manuscript should be in Times New Roman, Bold, Font Size 16, with 1.5 line spacing, all caps, and centered alignment. Note – Please do not indicate author(s) name, affiliation, or any other such information in manuscript elsewhere.
• Main Body: The main text should be formatted in Times New Roman, Font Size 12, with 1.5 line spacing, 1-inch margins on all sides, and justified alignment on A4 size paper.
• Footnotes: Footnotes should be formatted in Times New Roman, Font Size 10, with 1.0 line spacing, and justified alignment.
• Citation Style: Footnotes must follow the Harvard Bluebook Citation Style (21st ed). Speaking or substantive footnotes are discouraged.
• Endnotes / Hyperlinks: The use of endnotes or hyperlinks will not be accepted. For any other query, you can write to: veslaw.research@ves.ac.in
• Papers can be presented in hybrid mode. Selected papers will be published as an edited volume with an ISBN.

Registration Fees

• Students- Rs. 800/- for Single author, Rs. 1300/- for Co-author
• Academicians/ Researchers/ Industry professionals etc. – Rs. 1200/- for Single Author, Rs. 1700/- for Co-author
• The Registration fees include hardcopy of the published ISBN Book, Conference Kit, Breakfast, Lunch, High Tea.

Registration Process

Individuals interested in participating in the Conference may register by filling in the Google form link and by paying the below mentioned registration fee (as applicable) for each Author/Co-author via Online mode using the link mentioned at the end of this post.

Registration and Submission Deadline (Important Dates)

• Last Date for Registration and final payment: 20th February, 2025
• Last Date for Submission of Paper: 24th February, 2025
• Date of the Conference: 8th March, 2025

Contact Information

• For any queries, you can write an email to: veslaw.research@ves.ac.in
• Ms. Fatma Siddiqui: +91 77385 97876
• Ms. Meher Jessiah: +91 77386 22722

Click here to register.