10th Independent Thought South Asia Legal Essay Competition
Last date of Submission: 15 August 2021
Queries & Submission: essay.ithought@gmail.com and +91-9999899494 (WhatsApp)
10th Independent Thought South Asia Legal Essay Competition under the aegis of SAIEVAC is open for University Students (under 30 years) from South Asian countries
Children Law Research Centre (CLRC), GLA University, Mathura
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the GLA University and Independent Thought towards establishing Children Law Research Centre (CLRC) at the Institute for Legal Research & Studies, GLA University, Mathura.
The CLRC will take forward the larger motto of the ILRC towards developing professional legal skills of research and advocacy on the cross-cutting issue of child / human rights. The CLRC with technical expertise of Independent Thought will be focused towards developing the critical minds of future lawyers and jurists towards recognizing children as equal rights holder having their own call for justice.
CCCRL | First Edition | Summer 2021
Certificate Course on Child Rights Law
First of its kind in India the Certificate Course on Child Rights Law is an amalgam of Theory & Practice. 30 Hours programme Certified by GLA University, an Accredited 'A' by NAAC and delivered by best of faculties and anchored by Independent Thought, with its grounding on Child Rights Advocacy, Research & Training.
Landmark Judgment - Independent Thought vs. Union of India
Milestones
2020: Established the Children Law Research Centre, GLA University
The CLRC has launched a "Certificate Course on Child Rights Law" in April 2021 and the First Edition of the Course has been successfully completed. For details of the Centre and Course contact CRLC.
#MISSION2029 Launch by CACM
The first law on Child Marriage in the unified India pre-partition, pre-independence and pre-Constitution was promulgated in 1929 - Child Marriage Restraint Act. It will be 100 years of Law in 2029 and shamefully we still as a country are not able to save 1/4th of the girls from being forced-early child marriage. As a country we need to work on a mission mode to end the menace of child marriage.
2018: Jena Committee Report on Child Care Institutions
Independent Thought supported the preparation of the draft report "Jena Committee Report on Child Care Institutions" under the supervision and guidance of the Committee headed by Smt. Ratna Anjan Jena
2017: Landmark Judgment - Independent Thought vs. Union of India
On 11 October 2017, International Girl Child Day, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, in a historic judgment declared sex with minor wife as Rape. The Judgment has changed the discourse on child marriages from a socio-economic-cultural-religious narrative to a Legal rights violations issue, demanding legal reform & implementation and requiring a responsible and accountable state mechanism to end child marriages.
2014-2017: Project Sangwari, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh
Independent Thought implemented project Sangwari “Strengthening Child Protection Mechanisms in Civil Strife areas of Dantewada District”. It was implemented with support from UNICEF in 25 villages of 14 Panchayat under Dantewada Block of Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh on issues of child protection.
2012-Ongoing: Independent Thought National Legal Essay Competition (Annual)
10th Year of the Essay Competition has generated lot of debate and discussions on issues concerning Child Rights Law among law students. Many of past winners are now successful lawyers, judicial magistrates and academicians, among others and we are sure must be keeping the best interest of children in priority in their legal engagements
2013: Campaign against Child Marriage (CACM) Launched
For recognition of rights violation of girl children due to child marriage, need for legal reform and better implementation and finally for more responsible and accountable State action; the CACM continues to take forward the #MISSION2029. For details www.childmarriage.info
2013: Public Interest Litigation(s)
Child Rights jurisprudence is an emerging area of work with lot of complications as most of the Stakeholders view from their experience of handling adult issues. Judiciary is part of Constitutional framework of State and has a critical role to play in strengthening the Legal and Institutional Mechanism of Child Rights Governance.
With this thought, Independent Thought has been engaged in Public Interest Litigations on several issues concerning right of Children since 2013 both at the Supreme Court and High Courts.