CNLU Patna and CTIL, IIFT invite research papers on reimagining international trade through a gendered lens for their December 2026 conference.
About Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna is hosting the India-Peru Joint WTO Chairs Programme Academic Research Conference in collaboration with the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
The conference is being organised under the aegis of the WTO Chairs Programme and will bring together academics, practitioners, policymakers, students and institutional representatives to discuss gender and international trade.
About the Opportunity
The India-Peru Joint WTO Chairs Programme Academic Research Conference is inviting original and unpublished research papers for its conference titled Beyond the Text: Re-Imagining International Trade through a Gendered Lens.
The conference will examine whether international trade is genuinely gender-neutral and explore how apparently neutral trade rules may create differentiated opportunities and burdens across gendered and intersecting social contexts. The conference will be held on December 15–16, 2026, at CNLU, Patna, Bihar.
Conference Date
The conference will be held on December 15–16, 2026.
Location
The conference will be held at Chanakya National Law University, Patna, Bihar, India.
Mode
The conference will primarily be conducted in person. Online participation may be permitted in exceptional circumstances on a case-by-case basis by the Conference Directors.
Eligibility Criteria
- Students pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate or doctoral programmes can participate.
- Academics, policymakers, think tank professionals, practitioners and institutional representatives can participate.
- Submissions may be co-authored by a maximum of two authors.
Themes
The suggested themes are indicative and not exhaustive. They include:
- Feminist Approaches to International Law and International Trade Law
- Fourth World Approaches to International Trade Law
- Indigenous Women as stewards of sustainable economies
- Disability, Inclusion and International Trade
- Gender provisions in bilateral or plurilateral trade agreements
- Intersectionality and International Trade
- Gender-inclusive trade facilitation policymaking
- 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
- Regional approaches and best practices on gender in international trade
- Gender-inclusive Free, Prior, and Informed Consent in investment policies
- Women-led enterprises’ access to e-commerce, technology and artificial intelligence
- Unpaid care burden and access to resources in international trade.
Submission Guidelines
Authors must submit an abstract of 350–500 words through email. The abstract must clearly outline the title of the paper, research problem, relevance, methodology and argument.
The abstract must be accompanied by a mini-bio of all authors, including their current institutional affiliations, with a maximum of 150 words per author.
The email subject line must be:
WCP2026 Patna: Abstract Submission
The submissions will be assessed on originality, relevance, scholarly quality and their potential contribution to the conference discussions. Papers containing explicit AI-generated content will not be considered for the publication opportunity.
Submission Categories
The conference is accepting original and unpublished research papers from students, academics, policymakers and researchers.
The full paper must be between 6,000 and 8,000 words, excluding references and footnotes. Formatting requirements, citation style and structural requirements will be communicated after acceptance of the abstract.
Publication Opportunity
Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special issue of the CNLU Journal of International Trade and Investment Law, described in the call as a flagship peer-reviewed and refereed journal of CNLU Patna, or in an edited volume published by a reputed international publisher.
Registration Fee
For Indian nationals, the registration fee is Rs. 3,000 per author upon acceptance of the abstract. Where a paper has more than one author, each author must pay the registration fee.
The registration fee is waived for overseas or foreign participants. The fee does not include accommodation but includes the registration kit, reading material, lunch, refreshments and access to all conference sessions on both days.
Accommodation
The registration fee does not include accommodation. Participants requiring assistance may seek support from the host institution, which will facilitate suitable accommodation or a hotel in Patna.
Deadline
The last date for abstract submission is October 5, 2026, by 11:59 PM IST.
The notification of acceptance will be issued on October 10, 2026. The last date for registration is October 18, 2026, by 11:59 PM IST.
The deadline for full paper submission is December 5, 2026, by 11:59 PM IST.
Contact
Email: tradegender@cnlu.ac.in
Dr. Utkarsh K. Mishra: ukmishra@cnlu.ac.in | +91 7905017038
Mr. Victor Saco: victor.saco@pucp.edu.pe
Mr. Satwik Shekhar: satwik@iift.edu
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Application Procedure
Interested authors may submit their abstracts through email to tradegender@cnlu.ac.in.
The email must contain the following:
- Title of the paper
- Research problem
- Relevance
- Methodology
- Argument
- Mini-bio of each author, with current institutional affiliation and within 150 words per author
Subject Line: WCP2026 Patna: Abstract Submission
The abstract must be between 350 and 500 words. The deadline for submission is October 5, 2026, by 11:59 PM IST.
