Introductory Workshop on Rights of Nature by Ms. Lauren Tarr

The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) Asia-Pacific Hub and Youth Hub in association with NUJS Legal Aid Society organised its first offline session since the reopening of the University for the 2024 winter semester. The session was organized on 08/02/2024 and consisted of an intimate conversation with Lauren Tarr, executive committee head of GARN Youth Hub. The session aimed to act as a forum for nuanced discourse on the rights of the environment and obligations owed to nature by human beings. There was an interactive question-answer discussion that aimed to raise awareness on issues pertaining to Rights of Nature, Environmental Justice and Community-based conservation.

We express our sincere gratitude to our Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Nirmal Kant Chakraborty for allowing us to conduct the session. We also wish to thank Professor Dr. Sanjit Kumar Chakraborty for constantly providing his unwavering support. The session was attended by over 30 students across all the batches. The session started from 3:00 PM onwards in presence of our faculty coordinator Ms. Sonam Basu and began with the introductory address by GARN Youth Hub Campus Ambassador and fifth year student from NUJS, Sushovan Patnaik. This was followed by an hour-long address by Ms. Tarr on eco-jurisprudence and the relevance of the rights of nature in different jurisdictions. The session was moderated and concluded by Ms. Somabha Bandopadhay (Advisor, Youth Hub and Facilitator, Asia-Pacific Hub). The session finally came to an end with a conferral of vote of thanks to the guest, and photograph session with all the attendees. We served refreshments in kullhadd and leaf plates as a small token of our contribution to a sustainable environment.

All members of the NUJS Legal Aid Society participated actively and contributed to the organisation of the session and raising awareness on the issues surrounding eco-jurisprudence.