The Human Rights Law Journal (HRLJ), published by National Law University Odisha, Cuttack, invites contributions for Volume XII. The journal welcomes original research on contemporary human rights issues and their legal and interdisciplinary dimensions. Abstracts are due by 20 November 2026, while the final-paper deadline is 31 March 2027.
About Human Rights Law Journal
Human Rights Law Journal is an annual, double-blind peer-reviewed academic journal published by National Law University Odisha. Established in 2016, it carries ISSN 2581-3307 and promotes doctrinal and empirical scholarship in human rights.
The journal publishes articles, case comments, legislative comments and book reviews examining human rights challenges, legal developments and evolving rights and obligations.
About the Call for Papers
Volume XII invites scholarship addressing contemporary issues within the broader field of human rights and its interactions with law.
The listed themes are indicative. Authors may explore other relevant human rights issues beyond these subjects.
Themes
The journal welcomes contributions on:
- Climate change and environmental justice.
- Freedom of expression, association and assembly.
- Migration and refugee protection.
- Ecocide and the right to a healthy environment.
- Misinformation, censorship, free expression and democracy.
- Corporate accountability and human rights in global supply chains.
- National and international human rights frameworks and mechanisms.
- Legal language and its relationship with injustice.
- Human rights of children in humanitarian crises.
- Judicial accountability, independence and human rights.
- Expanding rights frameworks, including animals, ecosystems and non-human entities.
Eligibility Criteria
Submissions are invited from academicians, legal practitioners and researchers working in law and allied interdisciplinary fields.
There is no restriction on the number of co-authors.
Submission Categories and Word Limits
| Category | Word Limit |
|---|---|
| Long Article | 5,000–8,000 words |
| Short Article | 3,000–5,000 words |
| Case Comment | 2,000–3,000 words |
| Legislative Comment on a Bill or Act | 2,000–3,000 words |
| Book Review | 1,500–2,500 words |
All word limits exclude footnotes. Authors exceeding the prescribed limit must provide a justification in their cover letter.
Formatting and Citation Guidelines
The main text must use Times New Roman, 12-point font and double line spacing. Footnotes must use Times New Roman, 10-point font and single line spacing.
Footnotes must follow OSCOLA, 5th Edition.
Manuscripts must include an abstract of up to 300 words and a maximum of five keywords. Case comments and book reviews are exempt from this requirement.
Anonymisation and Required Documents
The main manuscript must be fully anonymised.
Authors must provide a separate cover page containing the manuscript title and the following details for each author:
- Full name.
- Institutional affiliation and designation.
- Email address and telephone number.
- ORCID ID.
- Postal address.
A Certificate of Originality and Copyright Transfer, signed by every author, must accompany the submission. It must include a declaration of any conflict of interest and disclosure of permitted AI assistance.
Originality and AI Policy
Manuscripts must be original, unpublished and exclusively submitted to HRLJ. Submissions proceed to peer review only if their overall similarity index is below 10%.
The journal prohibits using generative AI to create or fabricate manuscript text, empirical data, citations or case law. It also prohibits simulated interviews, synthetic qualitative field data, automated qualitative or thematic analysis, and synthetic images presented as primary evidence.
Permitted assistance includes copyediting, grammar correction, translation, source compilation, preliminary literature searches, attributed illustrative graphics and reference formatting. Such use must be disclosed in the Certificate of Originality.
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Submission Fee
The journal charges no submission fee.
How to Submit?
Authors should submit their abstracts through the submission route provided in the brochure’s QR code.
Access the abstract submission link.
Authors should consult the brochure for submission requirements and contact the Editorial Board for clarification.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for papers issued | 3 November 2026 |
| Abstract submission deadline | 20 November 2026 |
| Acceptance notification | 30 November 2026 |
| Final-paper submission deadline | 31 March 2027 |
The journal also follows a rolling submission policy. Submissions received on or after 1 April 2027 will be considered for the August 2028 volume.
Contact Details
Queries may be addressed to the Editorial Board at hrlj@nluo.ac.in.
The journal’s address is Human Rights Law Journal, National Law University Odisha, Naraj Road, Sector 13, CDA, Cuttack, Odisha – 753015.
Download the Volume XII call-for-papers brochure.
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