CfP: Beyond the Text: Re-Imagining International Trade through a Gendered Lens

About CNLU Patna

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna, was established on July 15, 2006, to provide quality legal education, promote legal awareness, and raise legal education standards. The university has also established a dedicated center for research in international trade and investment laws.

About the Conference

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna, and the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, under the aegis of the WTO Chairs Programme—Chairs of India and Peru, jointly invite paper submissions for the International Academic Research Conference on “Beyond the Text: Re-Imagining International Trade through a Gendered Lens”.

The conference will be held on December 15-16, 2026, at CNLU, Patna, Bihar.

The Conference seeks to encourage discussions on whether the apparent neutrality of international trade law conceals differentiated realities, opportunities, and burdens across gendered and intersecting social contexts.

Themes

Original, unpublished research papers are invited on themes including, but not limited to:

• Feminist Approaches to International Law and International Trade Law.
• Fourth World Approaches to International Trade Law.
• Indigenous Women and Sustainable Economies.
• Disability, Inclusion, and International Trade.
• Gender and Bilateral or Plurilateral Trade Agreements.
• Intersectionality and International Trade.
• Gender-Inclusive Trade Facilitation and Policy Making.
• Mainstreaming Gender in Trade Agreements and Domestic Policies.
• Women’s Access to Trade Finance and Credit.
• Women’s Representation as Negotiators in Trade Agreements.
• Digital Trade and Gender Equality.
• Barriers to Women’s Participation in Global Value Chains.
• Gender-inclusive FPIC in Investment Policies.
• Women-led Enterprises’ Access to E-Commerce, Technology, and AI.
• Unpaid Care Burden and Access to Resources in International Trade.

Important Dates

Particulars	Date
Last Date of Abstract Submission	October 5, 2026, 11:59 PM IST
Notification of Acceptance	October 10, 2026
Last Date of Registration	October 18, 2026, 11:59 PM IST
Full Paper Submission	December 5, 2026, 11:59 PM IST
Conference Dates	December 15-16, 2026

Submission Guidelines

• Abstracts should be 350-500 words and must outline the title of the paper, research problem, relevance, methodology, and argument.
• Submit abstracts via email to tradegender@cnlu.ac.in.
• Use the subject line: WCP2026 Patna: Abstract Submission.
• Include a mini-bio of each author with their current institutional affiliation, up to 150 words per author.
• A maximum of two authors is permitted.
• Full papers should be 6,000-8,000 words, excluding references and footnotes.
• Papers with explicit AI-generated content will not be considered for publication opportunity.

Publication Opportunity

Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special issue of the CNLU Journal of International Trade and Investment Law, published by Thomson Reuters, or in an edited volume published by a reputed international publisher.

Eligibility and Registration Fee

Participation is open to students, academics, policymakers, think tank professionals, practitioners, and institutional representatives.

• Indian Nationals: Rs. 3,000 per author.
• Overseas/Foreign Participants: Registration fee waived.
• The conference is primarily in-person. Online participation may be allowed in exceptional circumstances on a case-to-case basis.

The registration fee includes the registration kit, reading material, lunch, refreshments, and access to all conference sessions. Accommodation is not included.

How to Submit?

Submit your abstract to tradegender@cnlu.ac.in with the subject line “WCP2026 Patna: Abstract Submission.”

Deadline

Last Date to Submit Abstract: October 5, 2026, 11:59 PM IST