Conference on Global Childhoods by National Law University, Odisha [Feb 14-16, 2024]: Submit by June 30

ABOUT NLUO

The National Law University Odisha (NLUO) was established in 2009 by Act IV of 2008 of the State of Odisha. Located in Cuttack, a city dating back to over a thousand years, it boasts a rich legal heritage with the seat of Orissa High Court situated here. The Chief Justice of Orissa is the Chancellor of the University and the Chief Justice of India or his nominee Supreme Court judge is the Visitor of the University. The University is recognized under Section 12(b) of the UGC Act 1956 and has been accredited with an ā€˜Aā€™ grade by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The University has been consistently placed high in the different university rankings.

The University offers five-year integrated B.A.LL.B. (Hons.)/B.B.A.LL.B (Hons.) degree programme at the undergraduate level, Master of Laws (LL.M.) and Ph.D. program at the postgraduate level. Within this short span, NLUO has made its mark as a university engaged in quality teaching and research in law. The liberal yet demanding academic culture coupled with the friendly environment has ensured that students can harness their full potential and contribute to the area of their choice. National Law University Odisha alumni are spread across the globe in top tier law firms, blue chip companies, judicial offices, courts, academia and think tanks.

ABOUT ISCI

The International Society for Child Indicators (ISCI) is an international organisation that is home for researchers, data users, child advocates, and policymakers. It has made considerable advances in developing and using indicators to measure the well-being of children and adolescents.

The ISCI Inaugural Conference on ā€œChild Indicators: Diverse Approaches to a Shared Goalā€ (June, 2007) dealt with several themes such as the theory and conceptual framework of child indicators, development of policy using child indicators and childrenā€™s involvement in measurement and implementation of indicators. Since then, ISCI has organized 8 Biennial International Conferences exploring the use of child indicators to improve the well-being of children in a globalized world and to assess childrenā€™s subjective well-being from an international perspective. On average, hundreds of delegates consisting of academics, researchers, data analysts, child advocates, policy makers from 35-47 countries from across the globe have attended these conferences and have shared best practices in their countries and regions for improving the wellbeing of children. The research and experiences presented from the grassroots have broken many myths about adult thinking regarding childrenā€™s awareness of their environment and have provided centre-stage to the voice of the child. The 8th ISCI International Conference on ā€œChildrenā€™s Rights and Opportunities in an Unequal World: Research, Policy and Interventionā€ (May, 2022) offered a critical perspective on public and social policies and promotion of equality of well-being for all children and how children dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic in different parts of the world.

In 2024, ISCI is going to hold its 9th International Conference for the second time in Asia.

9 ISCI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

National Law University Odisha is proud and privileged to be the host for the 9th ISCI Conference on the theme of ā€œGlobal Childhoods: Critical Perspectives Promoting Theoretical, Empirical and Policy Understandingsā€ on 14-16 February 2024 in Bhubaneswar, India. In this, National Law University has the support of Prof. Ravinder Barn from University of London, England and Prof. Damanjit Sandhu from Punjabi University, Patiala, India.

The 9th ISCI International Conference will focus on three aspects. Firstly, there will be critical analyses of whether government policies and programs have succeeded in promoting the wellbeing of children. Secondly, there will be an assessment of the rate of progress in Odisha, India and other countries in terms of the SDG goals to be achieved by 2030. Thirdly, there will be deliberations on changes in policies and programs for better results by incorporating the voices of children in consonance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizing the Right of Participation of children relating to decisions affecting them. In most countries, this right exists mostly on paper and children are rarely involved regarding any law, policy decision, scheme, etc. affecting them.

The 9th International Conference of ISCI being held in Asia, will provide an added platform for the voices of children in the Asian region. Children are not merely future citizens of a country. The contemporaneous present of children is as important as their future potential as adults.

CONCEPT NOTE

The Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25th September, 2015 titled as ā€œTransforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmentā€ provides a plan of action consisting of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for people, planet and prosperity with the aim to strengthen universal peace. Amongst several areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet, the SDGs focus on childrenā€™s welfare and well-being. In their broader scope, the following SDGs address children related issues, aiming to: end poverty in all its forms everywhere (Goal 1); end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and to promote sustainable agriculture (Goal 2); ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages(Goal 3); ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (Goal 4); achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls (Goal 5); ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all (Goal 6); promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (Goal 8); make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (Goal 11); and promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels (Goal 16)

More specifically, the SDGs address issues such as reduction of poverty amongst children, ensuring food security, ending malnutrition and serving other nutritional needs of children and adolescent girls. Health related concerns of children such as reduction of the global maternal mortality ratio and neonatal mortality rate, ending preventable deaths of new-borns and infants and promoting mental health and well-being etc. are also addressed in the targets of SDGs. Besides, the SDGs aim to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by facilitating access to primary and secondary education which is free, equitable and qualitative. The SDGs also highlight the importance of educational facilities which are sensitive to the needs of children and of individuals with disabilities and from different gender. providing safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.

Additionally, the SDGs also emphasize the elimination of harmful practices such as child-marriage, female genital mutilation, child labour and recruitment of child soldiers. Furthermore, SDGs call for ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children. SDGs also mandate universal access to safe, inclusive, accessible, green and public spaces for children and access to adequate, safe and affordable housing for all.

Themes and Sub-themes

  • Essence of Childhoods
    • Universalism of Values vis-Ć -vis Cultural Relativism
    • Childhoods in Countries with Varying Economic Status
    • Socio-Cultural Understandings of Childhood
    • Legal Understandings of Childhood
    • Psychological Understandings of Childhood
    • Gendered Childhoods
    • Childhoods in Marginalised Communities
  • Childrenā€™s Wellbeing and Happiness
    • From Childrenā€™s Welfare to Childrenā€™s Wellbeing
    • Understanding Wellbeing and Happiness
    • Wellbeing Indicators: Children vis-Ć -vis Adults
    • Happiness Indicators: Children vis-Ć -vis Adults
    • Role of Child Rights in Promoting Wellbeing and Happiness
    • Best Practices for Promoting Childrenā€™s Wellbeing and Happiness
    • Role of Child Indicators Research in Influencing Public Policy
    • Methodologies for Understanding Childrenā€™s Wellbeing and Happiness
  • Health of Children
    • Health Indicators for Children
    • Childrenā€™s Experience With Healthcare Services
    • Access to Healthcare Facilities: Public vis-Ć -vis Private
    • Schemes, Policies and Programs Affecting Childrenā€™s Health
    • Cultural Practices Affecting Childrenā€™s Health (Circumcision, Female
      Genital Mutilation etc.)
    • Growing Up in a Technological Environment
    • The health of Children in Difficult Circumstances
      • Domestic Violence
      • Sexual Exploitation/Violence/Abuse
      • Spatial Constraints
      • Child Labour
      • Children With Disabilities
      • Being a Girl Child
      • Mental Health Issues
      • Children in Inst
  • Childrenā€™s Education
    • What do Children want to learn?
    • Sites of Learning: Homes, Neighbourhood, Schools, Child Care Institutions, Popular Culture
    • How do Children want to learn?
    • Schemes and Initiatives for Childrenā€™s Education
    • Alternative Education for Children
    • Education in Natural Disasters
    • Accessibility to Education
    • Inclusivity in Education
  • Food and Child Wellbeing
    • Access to Food
    • Addressing Malnutrition
    • Child Targeted Advertising: Marketing of Junk Food
    • Breast Milk Substitutes
    • Nutrition in Child Care Institutions
  • Childrenā€™s Freedom of Choice
    • Evolving capacities and Childrenā€™s Opinion- Addressing Malnutrition
    • Balancing Childrenā€™s Privacy and Parental control
    • Sexual Autonomy
    • Child Marriage
    • Manipulating Childrenā€™s Choice: The Effect of Tobacco Advertising
  • Basic Rights for Childrenā€™s Happiness and Wellbeing
    • Right to Survival
    • Right to Family
    • Right to Identity
    • Right to Development
    • Right to Protection
    • Right to Participation
    • Children in Difficult Circumstances
    • Harmonising the Basic Rights
  • Childrenā€™s Access to Justice
    • Understanding Childrenā€™s Access to Justice
    • Child Advocacy
    • Childrenā€™s Voices in the Institutional Decision-Making
    • Legal Aid for Children
    • Support System in Legal Proceedings

Important Dates

  • Last date for submission of abstracts and panel proposals: 30/06/2023
  • Notification of acceptance of abstracts and panel proposals: 30/07/2023
  • Last Date of Registration for Paper Presenters: 10/10/2023
  • Last date for submission of the full paper for the Conference: 10/01/2024
  • Last date for submission of the revised paper for publication: 15/04/2024

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