3rd International Research Symposium on Gender Equity and Equality

(IRSGEE – 2026)

The Centre for Gender Equity and Equality (CGEE) at the University of Jaffna is proud to announce the 3rd International Research Symposium on Gender Equity and Equality (IRSGEE – 2026). This prestigious conference is part of the Jaffna University International Research Conference – 2026 (JUICe – 2026) and will serve as a vibrant and inclusive forum. Scholars, activists, and advocates from around the globe are invited to engage in enriching discussions and innovative explorations of gender-related issues. This is held in collaboration with and funded by the Department of Christian and Islamic Civilizations and the Student Christian Movement of Sri Lanka.

The theme for IRSGEE – 2026, “From Policy to Practice: Making Gender Equity and Equality a Lived Reality” (“கொள்கையிலிருந்து நடைமுறைக்கு: பாலின சமத்துவத்தையும் சமநிலையையும் வாழ்வியலாக்குதல்”), underscores the urgent need to move beyond rhetorical commitments and policy frameworks towards meaningful, measurable, and sustainable gender-transformative actions.

This theme foregrounds the translation of gender equity and equality from institutional policies, legislative frameworks, and strategic plans into everyday practices, lived experiences, and social realities across diverse contexts. It emphasizes practical implementation in education, governance, digital spaces, workplaces, communities, and public life, with particular attention to intersectionality, inclusivity, accountability, and impact.

Reflecting IRSGEE’s overarching objective, the theme invites critical and practice-oriented scholarship that examines how gender equity and equality can be operationalized, institutionalized, and sustained, ensuring that they are not merely articulated in speeches and documents but experienced in the lives of women, men, and gender-diverse individuals. In doing so, IRSGEE – 2026 seeks to advance Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) through context-sensitive, evidence-based, and action-driven approaches at local, national, and global levels. By inspecting the relationship between excellence and sustainability, the conference aims to dissect the intricacies of responsible management and its potential to drive positive global change. IRSGEE serves as a platform where leading academics, professionals and researchers come together to share insights, tackle challenges and envision a future marked by better and innovative collaborations.

Embedded within JUICe – 2026, IRSGEE will feature technical sessions, networking opportunities, and scholarly dialogue aimed at advancing inclusive and transformative gender discourse. Abstracts and full papers are invited in Tamil and English, with poster presentations open to undergraduates of all national universities. Best papers from each session will be recognized.