Women Advocates Gather in Lucknow for Empowerment Conference on International Women's Day
A significant state-level conference for women advocates was successfully organized by the Adhivakta Parishad Awadh on Saturday at Babu Banarasi Das University in Lucknow. This important event was specifically timed to coincide with and honor International Women's Day, drawing substantial participation from legal professionals across the region.
Conference Theme and Participation
The conference carried the powerful theme 'Women's Dignity, Equality and Justice – Women Empowerment in 75 Years of the Constitution'. This theme directly connected the celebration of women's achievements with the foundational legal document of India, examining progress over three-quarters of a century. Women advocates from an impressive 16 different units of the council, along with representatives from the Lucknow unit of the high court, attended in large and enthusiastic numbers, demonstrating strong engagement with the topic.
Key Addresses and Insights from Dignitaries
Justice Brij Raj Singh of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, serving as the chief guest, delivered a poignant address. He invoked the wisdom of B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, who famously believed that the progress of a society can be measured by the status of its women. Justice Singh praised the remarkable advancements Indian women have made across diverse fields and noted their continued forward momentum with growing confidence.
Justice Babita Rani provided a detailed examination of the rights guaranteed to women under the Indian Constitution. She passionately encouraged attendees to break through persistent social barriers, move ahead with courage, and strive relentlessly for excellence in every professional and personal sphere they occupy.
Initiatives and Calls for Greater Representation
Babita Singh Chauhan, the chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women, attended as a special guest. She outlined various initiatives and schemes currently being undertaken by the commission specifically aimed at women's empowerment. Advocating strongly for greater representation, Chauhan emphasized that since women constitute nearly 50% of society, they should rightfully receive proportional reservation and participation in all spheres of public and professional life.
Academic and Organizational Perspectives
Viraj Sagar Das, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of BBD University, highlighted a positive societal trend, noting that women's participation in the legal profession is steadily and significantly increasing. This, he stated, is an encouraging sign for the broader development of society and the legal system.
Adding a historical and academic dimension, Seema Singh from Delhi University presented a comprehensive and detailed overview tracing the evolution of women's rights from ancient times through to the contemporary era, providing crucial context for the day's discussions.
Finally, Meenakshi Parihar Singh, the state general secretary of the Adhivakta Parishad, spoke about the organization's ongoing work in this arena. She effectively outlined what she described as the seven critical stages of women's dignity, providing a structured framework for understanding and advancing the core goals of the conference.
