The XI edition of National Students Conference on Urban Warfare and the Protection of Refugees in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) India was inaugurated at the Institute of Law on 18th March, 2023. Shri Prashant Bhushan, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Prof (Dr) Vinod Kumar- Director, Centre for Human Rights- National Law University, Delhi, Ms. Hamsa Vijayvarghan Chief Operating Officer, Migration and Asylum Project, New Delhi and Dr Vikas Gandhi Professor, Gujarat National Law University and Ms. Rejitha Nair-Founding Faculty Shiv Nadar University, Chennai, were the other dignitaries at the event.
Shri Prashant Bhushan in his address highlighted the status quo of human rights in contemporary world. He stressed on the rights of refugee and the non-refoulment principle. He referred to Article 21 of the Constitution of India as a backing provision to the intricacies of health, education and food that the refugees require. He also pointed out the developing customary status of the Refugee Convention and how even the non-signatories would be under an obligation to adhere to it. As concluding remarks, he suggested a framework that can be adopted by Judiciary wherein the Courts could nationally enforce principles of international law dealing with human rights to show its inclusion in municipal law.
Earlier, Prof (Dr) Madhuri Parikh- Dean and Director (I/c), Institute of Law delivered the welcome address. She stated that This conference aims at addressing the core issues which plague the current Humanitarian and Refugee Law, imminent and foresighted challenges encountered by the treaties universally ratified with a special focus on how efficient are current conventions in furnishing the interests and addressing the needs of present-day undocumented refugee community whose situations are changing dynamically.
Ms Anviksha Pachori, Faculty Head, Centre for IHL & HR at the institute elaborated on the origin and development of International Humanitarian Law and Human rights. She elaborated on the theme of the present edition of the conference and stated that the event has participation from National Law Schools, South Asian University, Central Universities and Catholic University of Brazil among others at the technical sessions. Ronak Sharma student coordinator at the conference delivered the vote of thanks.