On 16–17 January 2026, a two-day hybrid international conference entitled Conceptualizing Legal Framework and Policies for Domestic Animal and Wildlife Conservation: Issues and Challenges was held at the Sharda School of Law, Sharda University, jointly organized with the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary.
The conference provided a global platform for academics, legal practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to discuss contemporary challenges in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, focusing on legal frameworks, policy enforcement, and emerging technologies.
Inaugural Ceremony and Global Academic Dialogue
The inaugural ceremony commenced with the traditional Lighting of the Lamp and Saraswati Vandana, symbolizing a shared commitment to knowledge, sustainability, and ecological responsibility.
Distinguished speakers at the opening session included Prof. (Dr.) Rhishikesh Dave, Dean of the Sharda School of Law, Ms Vishaish Uppal (WWF India), Prof. (Dr.) Sibaram Khara, Vice-Chancellor of Sharda University, and Prof. Dr. Robert Szuchy, Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs at Károli University. The speakers collectively emphasized the importance of strengthening legal frameworks, improving enforcement mechanisms, and fostering international academic cooperation in the field of animal and wildlife protection.
Academic Contributions from Károli University
Faculty members from Károli University made significant scholarly contributions to the conference.
Prof. Dr. Andrea Domokos, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law, presented on the European Union’s animal welfare and protection framework. Her lecture highlighted the EU’s recognition of animals as sentient beings under Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and examined the global influence of EU standards, as well as recent developments in Hungarian animal protection law.
In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Robert Szuchy addressed the legal balancing of wildlife protection and energy infrastructure development within the European Union. He analyzed the application of the Birds and Habitats Directives, environmental assessment requirements, and key case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the context of renewable energy projects.
Technology, Law, and the Future of Cooperation
One of the most forward-looking sessions of the conference focused on the role of emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, drones, and DNA tracking—in conservation governance. Participants agreed that legal systems must adapt to technological innovation while maintaining robust safeguards for biodiversity and the rule of law.
The conference concluded with a valedictory session attended by Hon’ble Justice P. B. Varale of the Supreme Court of India. In his closing address, Prof. Dr. Szuchy underlined that animal and wildlife conservation is a global challenge requiring sustained international cooperation, joint research initiatives, and long-term academic partnerships
The successful organization of this conference marks an important milestone in the international engagement of Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, animal protection, and global academic collaboration.
