Orientation Week 2025 Commences at Centre for Human Rights and Duties with a Special Focus on Human Rights, Social Justice, and Trans Rights

Chandigarh, September 15, 2025: The Centre for Human Rights and Duties (CHRD), Panjab University, Chandigarh, inaugurated its Orientation Week 2025 today with a special focus on Human Rights, Social Justice, and Trans Rights.

The day opened with a Special Lecture on “Human Rights and Social Justice: Role of Legal Aid Clinics in Higher Educational Institutions,” delivered by Sh. Shiv Kumar, Project Co-ordinator, District Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh. In his keynote address, he elaborated on the hierarchy, functioning, and outreach of the National and State Legal Services Authorities, emphasising their pivotal role in supporting marginalised communities. He particularly stressed the significance of Lok Adalats, mediators, and counsellors, while encouraging students of Human Rights to actively volunteer with legal aid clinics. Internship opportunities at the District Legal Services Authority were also highlighted, inspiring students to strengthen their para-legal skills and engagement with the justice system.

The event was followed by the screening of the National Award-winning film “Admitted,” directed and produced by Ojaswwee Sharma, who had received the Rajat Kamal Award at the 68th National Film Awards for this movie. The film is the first Indian film to spotlight transgender struggles through an authentic narrative and is based on the lived experience of the first transgender student of Panjab University and alumnus of the Centre for Human Rights and Duties, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Post-screening, an interactive discussion was held with Mx. Dhananjay Chauhan. She shared her personal journey of courage, reflecting on the persistent barriers of discrimination, judgement, and exclusion faced by transgender persons. Emphasising that true equality requires societal acceptance beyond legal safeguards, she called for greater sensitisation across academic spaces. Director Ojaswwee Sharma also shared the struggles of producing a transgender-focused film in an industry that rarely engages with such issues, underlining the importance of cinema as a medium for rights-based advocacy.

Dr. Upneet Kaur Mangat, Chairperson, Centre for Human Rights and Duties (CHRD), Panjab University, lauded Mx. Chauhan’s advocacy, which paved the way for transgender washrooms and anti-discrimination mechanisms at the University. She described her as a role model whose activism continues to transform institutional culture for the promotion of inclusion and gender diversity.

Prof. Namita Gupta, Dean, Student Welfare (W) stressed the importance of sensitisation for trans rights in academic spaces and assured Panjab University’s commitment to gender inclusivity.

The day’s proceedings reflected CHRD’s mission to strengthen human rights education, research, and advocacy. Since its establishment in 2007, CHRD has spearheaded social justice initiatives ranging from legal aid clinics, field-based projects, and skill development programmes on human rights practice and advocacy.

The Orientation Week thus began with a powerful reminder that human rights education is not only about laws and policies but also about empathy, inclusion, and transformative action.