NATIONAL CONFERENCE – THEME OF THE CONFERENCE: “Evolving Frontiers of Warfare: Expanding Legal Challenges Beyond Traditional Battlefields. By Nirma University, Ahmedabad.

About the conference:

The conference is conducted annually by the centre with a vision to generate awareness amongst the students and academia. To address the contemporary issues and challenges faced by scholars, academicians, practitioners, and students in the field of International Humanitarian and Refugee Law.

Acting as a facilitator, the conference is to present a platform for interaction between eminent personalities, zealous students, dedicated organizations and every such stakeholder having an interest in the field. To encourage research and dialogue amongst young scholars, the best papers will be rewarded with a cash prize and selected papers will be published in an edited volume of Conference Proceedings.

About the Institute of Law, Nirma University:

Founded on the vision of Dr. Karsanbhai K. Patel, the Institute of Law, Nirma University (ILNU), established in 2007, focuses on bringing about a paradigm shift in the delivery of legal education in the country. It aims to add newer dimensions to legal education that would incorporate international standards and provide an environment for innovation and dynamic scholarship. Embodying the principles of justice education, excellence, and professionalism, ILNU imparts quality legal education that has produced a new generation of lawyers, leaders, and policymakers over the years.

About the Centre for IHL & HR:

The Centre for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights endeavours to develop a research-based and inquisitive platform for students in this field of law and to keep up an academic response to the prevalent contemporary challenges in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law.

To make the Institute a Centre of Excellence on the legal education map of India, it aims to provide world-class facilities to impart training and conduct research in the field of Law. Currently, the Institute has twelve research centres of which, the Centre for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law is one of them.

THEME OF THE CONFERENCE:

Evolving Frontiers of Warfare: Expanding Legal Challenges Beyond Traditional Battlefields

The sub themes for the conference are as follows:

1. Cybercrime Law in Times of Conflict

2. International Humanitarian Law and Modern Naval Warfare

3. Legal framework for protection of whistle-blowers in conflict prone zones

4. Sexual Violence as a Tactic of War and Genocide

5. Biopolitics and War: The Weaponization of Humanitarian Aid in Conflict Zones

6. Effect of outer space militarization on civilian space systems

7. Refugees in the Age of Hybrid Warfare: Navigating New Battlefronts and Legal Protections

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Eligibility: The conference is open to undergraduate/postgraduate students. This conference is an opportunity for all to interact with like-minded individuals from different institutes all across the globe. The conference will also provide a platform for discussions and deliberations with experts, dedicated organizations, and stakeholders in the relevant field.

Registration Fees:

Registration fees for the National Conference on International Humanitarian Law and Refugee Law shall be Rs. 2000/- (Per Author) for Research Scholars, the fee shall be Rs. 1500/- (Per Author) for Students, which should be payable by Demand Draft in Favor of ‘Institute of Law, Nirma University’ payable at Ahmedabad, which only needs to be deposited after the Abstract is selected.

The registration fee is inclusive of participation, reading materials and food. Details of the accommodation will be shared in due time

Prizes: To encourage participants, the best papers will be rewarded, and selected papers will be published in an edited volume of Conference proceedings by the Centre.

Mode of the Conference:

Offline

Note: Please submit your abstract and final paper through email ID i.e., cihls@nirmauni.ac.in. Additionally, the centre will be eager to assist the participants with the accommodation if required.

TIMELINE:

Abstract Submission: 5th March, 2025

Final Paper Submission: 3rd April, 2025

Date for the conference: 11th April, 2025.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

· The Abstract should be in the font Times New Roman with 1.5 line spacing and Font Size 12 (Title Font Size 14). The Abstract should not exceed 300 words and must have six keywords. It should be submitted latest by 5th March, 2025 in Soft Copy.

· Acceptance of the Abstract would be notified within a week of the receipt of the same.

· The Final Manuscript, accompanied by the abstract of about 300 words, should be submitted by 3rd April 2025 in Soft Copy.

· The text of the full paper and abstract must include the title of the paper, but must not include the name(s) of the author(s) as the papers will be blind-reviewed.

· Submissions should include a separate Title Page which clearly indicates the name(s) of Page which clearly indicates the name(s) of the author(s), complete mailing address(es), Telephone No. and email address(es).

· Co-authorship is allowed subject to a maximum of two co-authors.

· The four best papers will be rewarded. Selected articles shall be published in the Conference Proceedings with an authenticated ISBN Number and a copy of the book as well as a certificate of publication shall be given to each selected author

WORD LIMIT: 3,000-6,000 words.

CITATION STYLE: The Bluebook Uniform System of Citation (20th edition) shall be strictly adhered to. The main text should be in Times New Roman, size 12 with a 1.5 line spacing and the footnotes shall be in size 10 with 1.0 line spacing. This shall be strict compliance for papers to be accepted for the review process.

The Centre is guided by a well-defined ‘Ethical policy’ which gives no scope for plagiarised submission. Thus, authors are requested to strictly follow the plagiarism policy for the academic submissions published by UGC.

PUBLICATION POLICY:

The submissions must be original and should not be under consideration in any other journal or for any publication. Articles with plagiarism and copyright issues are liable to be rejected immediately. The Centre is not to be subject to any liability which may arise in this regard.

Submission of work made to the Conference, is indicative of the fact that the authors grant exclusive permission to the Centre for IHL and HR to publish and reproduce their work in all streams of media. Such right is subject to the doctrine of fair use as followed under the law relating to Intellectual Property Rights and subject to the entitlements of the author.

The editors reserve the right to delete or edit any article or part thereof whose content is found to be offensive, defamatory, outrightly unethical, or if it is suggestive of discrimination in any form racism, sexual, gender, religious, illegal, or terror activities, and/or any other. The article is subjected to rejection if its content is likely to offend or provoke any personal, religious, or political sentiments of the reader.

There is no publication fee. A process of peer review shall be used to scrutinise all the submissions. Following this, the authors of selected papers will be notified of the results.