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Regulating labour immigration: Labour markets, welfare states and public policy

Summary of the impact

The regulation of labour immigration and the rights of migrant workers are among the most contested public policy issues in high-income countries. Oxford research by Ruhs and Anderson, in conjunction with Martin (UC Davis), on how labour markets, welfare states and other public policies shape the demand for migrant workers, has directly impacted on: labour immigration policymaking in the UK (via the recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee); the development of legislation for comprehensive immigration reform in the US; and policy debates in the Netherlands. The related research by Ruhs on the trade-offs between openness and rights in labour immigration policymaking has also informed debates and proposals about the global governance of international labour migration at the United Nations and other international institutions.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Social Work and Social Policy

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Economics: Applied Economics
Studies In Human Society: Demography, Policy and Administration

Developing International Responses to Trafficking and the Demand for Low-waged (Migrant) Labour

Summary of the impact

Research in COMPAS (Centre on Migration, Policy and Society, in the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, Oxford) on low-waged migrant labour, particularly in the care sector, has contributed significantly to public debate and policy development on migrant labour, labour demand, and trafficking and forced labour.

Led by Anderson, COMPAS's work in these fields has directly impacted upon (1) international debate, by informing the position of the UN and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on trafficking; (2) UK immigration policy and practice by making a key contribution to how skills and labour shortages are conceptualized for the purposes of policy; and (3) the work of trade unions and NGOs in the UK by demonstrating links between forced labour and labour market flexibility, a connection that has been taken up in campaigning.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Anthropology and Development Studies

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services: Business and Management
Studies In Human Society: Demography

Human Trafficking

Summary of the impact

The work of Ryszard Piotrowicz in international law has had demonstrable impact through his influence in the development of law and policy with regard to human trafficking, including court citations. Recognition of Piotrowicz's published work led to appointment (twice) to the European Commission's Group of Experts on Trafficking in Human Beings, and his nomination by the UK Government, and election to GRETA (Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings). He is the only person to sit on both bodies and contributes significantly to the development of national, and international, law and policy on trafficking. His work on GRETA has already contributed to several country reports, which assess States' compliance with their obligations and makes recommendations for change where necessary. States should implement the recommendations made. His work on the EU Group contributed directly to the "EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human beings" (2012-2016). His research has also produced impact through training programmes on human trafficking for public servants which he is invited to run, as well as regular media appearances on the BBC, which have impact by raising popular awareness of international affairs and human rights.

Submitting Institution

Aberystwyth University

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Law and Legal Studies: Law

Informing rights-based challenges to mainstream policy responses to human trafficking

Summary of the impact

O'Connell Davidson's pioneering research delivered the first systematic study of the demand for prostitution and domestic work and contested mainstream policy responses to human trafficking, childhood and migration.

Through adoption by international agencies, citation by leading global organisations, speeches at international conferences and via media debate, the research findings have been influential in informing UK legislation, redefining the focus of international policy on human trafficking and encouraging children's NGOs to adopt new approaches to child migration and trafficking.

Submitting Institution

University of Nottingham

Unit of Assessment

Social Work and Social Policy

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Studies In Human Society: Demography

Measuring human rights performance and assessing the quality of democracy

Summary of the impact

Essex research on developing quantitative indicators for assessing countries' performance on human rights and democracy has informed the work of a number of international organisations. Professor Todd Landman's research has been used by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in its provision of assessment frameworks and by the UN Development Programme in its work on democratic governance and sustainable development. Landman's research on democracy underpins the main resources employed by the inter-governmental organisation, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), based in Sweden. These resources have been translated into four languages and are used to assess the quality of democracy throughout the world. He also provides training for International IDEA's 150 members of staff on the measurement and assessment of democratic performance.

Submitting Institution

University of Essex

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science
Law and Legal Studies: Law

Human Rights Law in a Globalised World – Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations (ETOs)

Summary of the impact

Skogly's research has significantly contributed to the understanding of how and to what extent states' human rights obligations go beyond the territorial borders of states. Increased globalisation has led to the need to address the human rights effects of states' international actions and operations, and Skogly's research in this area has directly influenced the development of authoritative principles regarding ETOs, and these are now actively used by NGOs and the United Nations. The case study focuses on how research findings have enabled NGOs and UN bodies to understand, articulate and apply states' extraterritorial human rights obligations.

Submitting Institution

Lancaster University

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science
Law and Legal Studies: Law

Protecting Human Rights in Global Investment

Summary of the impact

Professor Sheldon Leader has worked on assessing the impact of foreign direct investment on human rights and sustainable development. This research has analysed investment contracts that have been damaging for human rights in developing countries, and Leader's work has resulted in recommendations for better human rights protection in future investment contracts. His recommendations have been adopted in new contracts, such as that between BP and the government of Turkey. His analyses of damaging investment, through his work as Director of the Essex Business and Human Rights Project, have informed the work of NGOs such as Amnesty International and Global Witness, and his consultations have contributed advice to the work of the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office to develop a government strategy on business and human rights.

Submitting Institution

University of Essex

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science
Law and Legal Studies: Law

Shaping the political debate regarding the development of a British Bill of Rights

Summary of the impact

Research conducted by Dr Liora Lazarus and colleagues at Oxford helped shape public and parliamentary debate on the merits of a domestic Bill of Rights for Britain. Some had argued that if Britain were to replace the Human Rights Act (HRA), which allows rights in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to be argued before domestic courts, with a British Bill of Rights, the government would gain greater flexibility, e.g. in addressing terrorist threats. The research showed that to be incorrect. This finding informed Reports to the Ministry of Justice, was influential in hearings of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and among human rights professionals, and was later used in Ministry of Justice training materials for judges on the nature of `proportionality' in human rights adjudication. It has situated one of the most controversial debates in British politics on a more secure evidential foundation, and provided reliable information to governments and others on the way courts can be expected to handle certain human rights cases.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Law and Legal Studies: Law

Transforming the Collection, Presentation, and Use of Data in the UK Migration Policy Debate

Summary of the impact

Research carried out at the University of Oxford's Centre on Migration Policy and Society (COMPAS) and disseminated through an accessible multimedia website, `The Migration Observatory', has transformed public and policy debate on migration and changed the practices of government departments, media, and third-sector organizations regarding migration data. As a result of COMPAS's research on public attitudes to immigration, migrants' remittance payments, and employers' demand for migrant labour, these groups have been able to make stronger, evidence-based arguments and decisions.

The impact has occurred in two main ways: (1) direct impact on public debates; and (2) changes in the practices of those participating in, or reporting on, those debates. The direct impact has included evidence for arguments against new restrictions on student immigration, and related arguments in favour of changing the way student immigration statistics are tracked. It has also included shaping deliberations on the potential for developing new measures of remittances by the Office of National Statistics. Changes in practice have involved the dissemination of research and data through the vehicle of the Migration Observatory. The Observatory has enabled journalists, civil servants, parliamentarians, and NGOs to use a more accurate and impartial evidence base in debates on migration issues, and to inform the public about such issues.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Anthropology and Development Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Economics: Applied Economics
Studies In Human Society: Demography

Human Rights Advocacy and Training

Summary of the impact

The European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC), led by Leach, has combined research and litigation over ten years, to achieve access to justice for individuals in the former Soviet Union. It has mentored and trained lawyers and non-governmental organisations; raised awareness about human rights violations; and improved the functioning of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Impact on public policy is evidenced by: (i) justice for individuals; (ii) compensation secured through the ECtHR; and (iii) consequential changes in national law and policy. To date, EHRAC's impact includes 98 ECtHR judgments against Russia, Georgia and Ukraine, on behalf of 1,100 victims.

Submitting Institution

Middlesex University

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Legal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Law and Legal Studies: Law

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