A two-day workshop on gender sensitization was recently organised by the Allahabad High Court Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters on April 26 and 27..Judicial officers from family courts in Agra, Aligarh, Auraiya, Budaun, Etah, Etawah, Farrukhabad, Firozabad, Hathras, Kannauj, Kasganj, Mainpuri, and Mathura participated in the workshop, which was held at the Judicial Training and Research Institute in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.The workshop was aimed at promoting awareness of gender stereotypes and fostering sensitivity towards recognizing gender bias both in professional environments and personal lives..The workshop was inaugurated on April 26 by Allahabad High Court judge and Chairperson of the Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters, Justice Sangeeta Chandra, along with Justice Om Prakash Shukla, who is also a member of the Committee..Justice Om Prakash Shukla delivered the keynote address. He spoke about how gender stereotypes, societal constructs, and stigmatization can shape perceptions within the justice system. He urged judges to remain vigilant of these influences to uphold fairness and equality in their judgments. He also underscored the need for the judiciary to stay attuned to societal shifts while interpreting and applying the law..Technical sessions conducted during the workshop were led by Prof Sumita Parmar, Dr Archana Singh, and a team from NGO Saajhi Duniya, which works for gender justice.The workshop aimed to challenge and transform prevailing perceptions of gender.Prof Sumita Parmar introduced the structure of the two-day workshop and acknowledged the continued efforts of the Committee for the Sensitization of Family Court Judges in promoting a deeper understanding of gender equality in judicial decision-making..Professor Roop Rekha Verma, Ex-Vice Chancellor of the Lucknow University, was also among the dignitaries who spoke at the event. She drew on her extensive experience and fieldwork to highlight numerous instances of gender inequality prevalent in society. She emphasized the importance of understanding gender beyond simplistic binaries, while clarifying that gender justice is not a conflict between the sexes. Professor Verma asserted that biological differences between men and women do not warrant unequal rights or responsibilities. .An ice-breaking session was also conducted to explore the current workplace environment and the influence of gender within it. Presided over by Prof Sumita Parmar and Dr Archana Singh, the session introduced the workshop’s objectives, highlighting that the goal was not just to understand legal provisions, but to encourage self-reflection. .On the second day, discussions focused on the role of gender in language and its impact within the judiciary. The last session traversed the decoding of cultural constructs. It was followed by concluding remarks by Prof. Sumita Parmar.In the valedictory session, Justice Sangeeta Chandra delivered a detailed address emphasizing the Supreme Court’s judgment in Aparna Bhat v. State of Madhya Pradesh. She highlighted the dangers of unconscious gender stereotypes in judicial decision-making and urged judges to cultivate sensitivity, impartiality, and awareness of their own biases to ensure fair and equitable justice.Justice Chandra also underlined the impact of subconscious biases on judicial outcomes and called for conscious efforts to eliminate such biases to ensure fair and equitable adjudication.
