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Incorporating feminist perspectives into international human rights law

Summary of the impact

International law has not in the past addressed fundamental issues of gender inequality. Chinkin's research has had impact through having been used in:

  • the negotiation of the Council of Europe Convention — a legally binding treaty — on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence;
  • work with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in their initiative on Tackling Sexual Violence as a Tactic of War and Conflict, which resulted in the G8 declaration on preventing sexual violence in conflict;
  • capacity-building and the training of policy makers and law enforcement officials in Argentina to enhance women's access to justice; and
  • the development of the UN Recommended principles and guidelines on human rights and trafficking.

Submitting Institution

London School of Economics & Political Science

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Legal

Research Subject Area(s)

Law and Legal Studies: Law

Securing Reparations for International Human Rights Violations

Summary of the impact

Dr Clara Sandoval's research has helped to clarify the scope of the obligation to provide reparations under international law. This research has informed legal cases worldwide considering claims to reparations: international courts such as the International Criminal Court and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights have relied on her work and her expert advice when considering claims to reparations; lawyers have used her work to claim reparations for victims of human rights violations; and international NGO Redress has used her work in its campaigns.

Submitting Institution

University of Essex

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Legal

Research Subject Area(s)

Law and Legal Studies: Law

Incorporating Socio-Economic Group Rights Within Global Development Goals

Summary of the impact

Emerging from investigations of social exclusion during the 1990s, the Unit's research into minority rights has led to outputs and consultancy ranging across political participation, identity, rights protection and international criminal law. The impact claimed here falls in two main channels. Firstly, research on socio-economic group rights, amplified by Castellino's work as co-chair of the relevant UN delegated group, has made a significant input into the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015-30. Secondly, research has been incorporated into practice and capacity- building through projects involving judiciaries, advocates, statutory bodies, and NGOs. Beneficiaries include the public across 194 states who will benefit from implementation of SDGs over their 15 years lifespan; and civil society bodies and their users.

Submitting Institution

Middlesex University

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Studies In Human Society: Political Science
Law and Legal Studies: Law

International law, human rights and constitution making

Summary of the impact

Beyani's research on the protection of refugees' human rights demonstrably underpins his work as a drafter of the Kenyan Constitution, as a United Nations Special Rapporteur, and as an expert advisor on the content of international treaties concerning protections to be accorded to internally displaced persons. The impacts specifically ascribable to his research relate to:

  • promoting the protection of human rights by treaty and constitution making;
  • denying refugee status to those accused of international crimes;
  • protecting displaced populations from genocide, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing; and
  • protecting the right to seek and obtain asylum.

Submitting Institution

London School of Economics & Political Science

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Political Science
Law and Legal Studies: Law

Informing Approaches to Improving Human Rights in South Sudan and Foreign Policy in the UK (Mashood Baderin)

Summary of the impact

The predominant perception of the relationship between Islamic law and international human rights law is that of one grounded in conflict, with Islamic law often presented as fundamentally incompatible with the tenets of international human rights. Mashood Baderin's research challenges this notion, arguing that, while the two legal systems operate differently in terms of scope and application, they also share important commonalities that facilitate the fulfilment of human rights obligations in Muslim states. The research has resulted in Baderin's appointment to a number of high-profile advisory roles that have enabled a significant contribution both to the guaranteeing of human rights in Islamic countries, and to the shaping of UK foreign policy.

Submitting Institution

School of Oriental & African Studies

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Legal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science
Law and Legal Studies: Law
Philosophy and Religious Studies: Religion and Religious Studies

Human Rights and the Law of Succession in Jersey

Summary of the impact

Under Jersey law, the right to inherit property has historically been affected by factors such as the legitimacy of a child and the gender of a spouse. This research, which was commissioned by the Jersey Community Relations Trust, concluded that aspects of the law were discriminatory and did not comply with human rights legislation. As a direct result of the research the law was amended so that illegitimate children were given the same fixed rights of inheritance as legitimate ones, and the fixed rights of inheritance of a widow and widower are now unified.

Submitting Institution

Birmingham City University

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Legal

Research Subject Area(s)

Law and Legal Studies: Law

Impunity and the Rule of Law: the Safety of Journalists

Summary of the impact

The Initiative on Impunity and the Rule of Law, a joint project of the Centre for Law, Justice and Journalism, City University London and the Centre for Freedom of the Media, University of Sheffield, has played an agenda-setting role in a campaign involving several non-governmental and inter-governmental bodies. It influenced international legislation and NGO practices concerning human rights, freedom of information and protection of journalists, most notably through the adoption of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity and its accompanying Implementation Strategy 2013-2014, both published in 2012.

Academic staff in The City Law School at City University London contributed to the campaign through their research expertise and the production of new material which enabled the identification of lacunae in the international standards of protection of journalists; and by making the case directly to United Nations decision-makers for additional safeguards.

The Initiative has achieved impact on public engagement, policy-making and civil society by: (i) shedding light on the problem of crimes against journalists by contributing detailed evidence on the number of human rights violations in different countries; (ii) campaigning to safeguard the personal and professional integrity of journalists worldwide; (iii) providing expert advice to governments, NGOs and international organisations to define legislation and understanding to prevent crimes against media freedom; and (iv) creating an international platform of academic and legal expertise for combatting violence against journalists.

Submitting Institution

City University, London

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, Other Law and Legal Studies

Promoting effective protection of human rights in situations of exception through collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

Summary of the impact

This case study focuses on the impact on the legal and policy debate at the domestic and international level of research carried out within the Centre for Research in Law (CRiL) on the legal protection of fundamental rights in situations of exception.

In particular, it discusses how the research in question has:

(a) assisted NGOs in shaping their strategies;

(b) informed the debate within international organisations;

(c) contributed to raising public awareness of issues relating to respect for fundamental rights in the context of counter-terrorism.

By raising awareness of the relevant legal constraints upon States and by assisting NGOs and international organizations, the research has contributed to reinforcing the protection of the fundamental rights of individuals belonging to specific groups and, more broadly, to the strengthening of the rule of law at both the domestic and international level.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

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

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

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

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