- Child Marriage Investment Case Workshop
A Validation Workshop on Interventions to Address Child Marriage and Adolescent Pregnancy in Bihar was organized by the Gender Resource Centre, CNLU Patna, in collaboration with UNFPA. The workshop presented findings from a UNFPA supported study and gathered key stakeholders — government officials, academics, civil society, and international agencies—for impactful dialogue and strategic planning. Discussions highlighted the role. We were joined by a total of 130 esteemed representatives from collaborating organisations as well as distinguished guests. The event featured an inaugural session with dignitaries, a case study presentation, a panel discussion with experts, and a stakeholder engagement session, culminating with the presentation of an actionable plan outlining the takeaways from the discussions.
- Capacity-Building (ToT) Workshop on the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
The Women & Child Development Corporation, Bihar, in collaboration with the Gender Resource Centre, CNLU Patna, and UNFPA, successfully organised a 5-day Training of Trainers (ToT) between June 30, 2025 to July 4, 2025 Workshop on the POSH Act, 2013, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Women & Child Development(WCDC), Patna. This workshop marked a crucial step in strengthening the capacity of a total of 133 Nodal Officers and district-level administrators (including DPOs, DPMs, and DMCs) from across Bihar, equipping them to become effective trainers at district and block levels.
Broad Objectives of the Programme
This ToT programme was designed to equip district-level administrators with the knowledge, skills, and resources to train others on the POSH Act, 2013. By creating a network of competent trainers, the programme aimed to enhance the implementation of the Act, ensure workplace safety, and promote gender equity across diverse sectors through a structured trickle-down effect. Post-training, the trained trainers will be able to support workplaces in establishing Internal Committees, drafting policies, ensuring compliance, time-bound complaint disposal and timely report submission as per the policies of the POSH Act. The trainers will also be able to build capacity and ensure compliance of Local Committees in matters of sexual harassment at workplaces having less than ten members (unorganized sectors).
Key Outcomes
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- Equipped trainees to deliver POSH training sessions in their respective districts or organisations
- Trainees shall support workplaces in establishing ICs and drafting policies
- Overall, enhanced adherence to the POSH Act, 2013 via strengthening of institutional mechanisms
- Workshop on Gender-Based Violence and Psycho-social Counselling for Centre Administrators, Counsellors, and Case Workers of Bihar’s One Stop Centres (OSCs)
The workshops on Gender-Based Violence and Psycho-social Counselling empowered a total of 128 Centre Administrators, Counsellors, and Case Workers of Bihar’s One Stop Centres (OSCs). The residential format will foster immersive learning and networking, amplifying the workshop’s impact.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive human rights violation, deeply rooted in discriminatory social and gender norms that perpetuate inequality. GBV is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations that have led to discrimination against women by men. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS V, 2019-2021), 29.3% of ever-married women in India and 40% in Bihar, aged 18-49, have experienced spousal violence. Given the large population of India and Bihar, the scale of GBV is significant, manifesting in physical, sexual, emotional, and economic forms.
Most violence occurs within the home and intimate relationships, leading survivors to suffer in silence due to stigma and fear. GBV has severe health, economic, and developmental consequences, posing a key barrier to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality and impeding progress on all 17 SDGs. Hence, services to address GBV should attempt to enhance the health and well-being of survivors, mitigate survivor revictimization and the effects of violence.
Recognizing the importance of ensuring an integrated response to GBV and enabling single-point access to a range of services for GBV survivors, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India initiated the establishment of OSCs in 2015. These OSCs aim to provide survivor-centered care and enable GBV survivors to access all the services they need in one place. The State of Bihar has established 38 OSCs. The OSCs have a Centre Administrator, case workers, counsellors, para-medical and para-legal staff, and a police facilitation officer.
Key Takeaways
- Improved capacity of OSC staff to deliver survivor-centred GBV services via:
- Strengthened psychosocial support and trauma-informed care for survivors
- Increased resilience and reduced compassion fatigue among frontline staff
- Greater inter-agency coordination and referrals leading to holistic survivor support
Research
- Socio-Legal Research on Witchcraft-based Persecution
The Gender Resource Centre (GRC) at Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) convened an emergency meeting on July 9, 2025, following a distressing incident in Purnia district, Bihar, where five members of a family were reportedly burnt alive over allegations of witchcraft. The meeting was chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Faizan Mustafa, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of CNLU, and attended by members of the GRC core team.
Prof. Mustafa expressed profound anguish at the tragic event and emphasized the critical need for rigorous research into the socio-cultural underpinnings of such incidents. He stated, “While laws define the framework of acceptable conduct, their true efficacy depends on evolving social attitudes, cultural understanding, and institutional support. Witchcraft accusations often stem from fear, gender bias, superstition, and religious belief systems. Addressing these issues requires evidence-based research that explores the root causes and guides meaningful reform.”
Supporting this view, Prof. P.P. Rao, Associate Professor of Law, cited data from the National Crime Records Bureau (2000–2016), which recorded over 2,500 women killed under witchcraft allegations, and the 2023–24 Nirantar Trust survey, which revealed that approximately 75,000 women in Bihar are at risk of being labeled as “daayan” (witch).
Dr. Ayushi Dube, Director of the Gender Resource Centre, proposed launching a socio-legal study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Bihar Prevention of Witch Practices Act, 1999. She stressed the need to examine the intersection of gender, caste, class, and religion in shaping witchcraft-related accusations and violence.
The meeting concluded with a strong collective commitment to advance this study as a vital step toward addressing systemic violence and promoting gender justice in Bihar. The GRC started to collaborate with funding bodies, government institutions, NGOs, and community leaders to ensure inclusive research and impactful outcomes.
Later, a consultative meeting was organised with two experts working with the community on 02 August 2025. A student research group was formed, and a research proposal was submitted for pilot research funding for CNLU.
On 16 September 2025, with the collaboration with Nirantar Trust, organised a state-level Consultancy on 25 years of the Bihar Witchcraft Prevention Act 1999, where community leaders, community members, survivors and subject matter experts joined and shared their experience and knowledge.
- Socio-Legal Research on Gender Responsive Policing
The study focuses on identifying the gaps and systemic barriers that exist within current policing practices. It aims to highlight best practices for promoting gender mainstreaming in law enforcement institutions. Upon completion of the research, we will organize a validation workshop with subject matter experts to present our findings and gather insights from relevant stakeholders. Based on the feedback and recommendations received during the workshop, we aim to develop a short course for police professionals on Gender Responsive Policing. This course will be curated to promote institutional change by addressing structural challenges, enhancing gender sensitivity, and supporting the integration of inclusive practices across policing systems.
- Socio-Legal Research on Missing Children
Based on 2022 NCRB data and one Hindustan Times Article, it came to highlight that out of the total 3 lakh missing children, 36 thousand are still untraced since 2020. Bihar stands at 8th ranking, as per NCRB data from 2022, a total of 5,204 girls and 796 boys went missing in state during the 2021-22 period, with no reported cases of missing transgender children and this stark discrepancy prompts an investigation into the factors contributing to this issue, particularly concerning the gendered nature of these numbers, as over 86% of the missing children are female, also it shares boundary with Nepal and West Bengal which highlights the issues of trafficking. Taking cognition from the data, a student research group was formed, and a research proposal was submitted for pilot research funding at the college level.
Student Engagement
- Elective Course on ‘Constructions of Gender and Sexuality in Indian Modernity’
An elective course on ‘Constructions of Gender and Sexuality in Indian Modernity’ is being offered to the B.A., LL.B. (H) & B.B.A., LL.B. (H) (Second year onwards) students of Chanakya National Law University during the first semester of 2025-26. This course aims to unpack the concept of gender as a lens for analyzing the dynamics of power and authority within human relationships, encompassing social and economic structures, familial ties, and intimate relationships. Students will develop a nuanced understanding of how gender shapes individual subjectivities and influences societal interactions, enabling them to reflect critically on the intersections between gender and various social contexts.
- Movie Screening and Discussion
- Invited Talk and interaction with
- Ms. May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bhutan on the titled ‘Gender Equality and Youth Leadership: A Norwegian Perspective on Advancing Rights and Ending Child Marriage’
- Ms. Shabnam Hashmi titled Democratising the Family: Toward Gender Equality and Shared
Authority
Educational content for the campus community to raise awareness on topics related to Gender and Sexuality through posters and social media engagement
