News
Why the death penalty is incompatible with democracy
1 February 2024
Professor Eric Heinze has written for The Conversation arguing that the death penalty is in itself incompatible with democracy. This is following the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith on 25 January for murder in Alabama, using the untested method of nitrogen asphyxiation.
Calls Grow for Prisoner-Hostage Exchange as Israel’s War on Gaza Escalates
9 November 2023
Dr Hedi Viterbo's social media posts about Palestinian prisoners were cited in an article from Truthout.
Greek data watchdog to rule on AI systems in refugee camps
3 November 2023
Dr Niovi Vavoula speaks to ComputerWeekly.com about the forthcoming decision on the compliance of surveillance and security systems in Greek refugee camps.
Saturday Morning Live with Esther and Phillip
18 October 2023
Professor Eric Heinze appeared on the GB News programme to discuss how the Labour Party's proposal for a new Racial Equality Act could play a helpful role.
Professor Fitzmaurice takes part in L’Institut de Droit International 150 anniversary
13 September 2023
Professor Malgosia Fitzmaurice returns from a special 150 anniversary of L’Institut de Droit International, held in Angers between 27 August - 2 September 2023.
Socioeconomic rights deserve legal protection
12 December 2022
Professor Geraldine Van Bueren has co-authored a letter to the Guardian regarding the new protected social rights proposed by Gordon Brown’s Commission on the UK’s Future.
New book: Research Handbook on Energy, Law and Ethics
9 November 2022
The book is edited by Professor Malik R. Dahlan, Professor Rosa María Lastra and Gustavo Rochette and published by Edward Elgar.
The Bruce Willis Deepfake Is Everyone’s Problem
17 October 2022
Professor Johanna Gibson comments on the Bruce Willis Deepfake for Wired.
Professor Eric Heinze discusses‘What do judges need to know about hate speech?’
7 October 2022
The panel event was hosted by Asser Institute.
The Times letters to editor
26 September 2022
Geraldine Van Bueren, Professor Emerita in Queen Mary’s School of Law, argues that now is the time to revive and expand the medieval right to food.
Dr Hedi Viterbo wins APSA Human Rights book award
22 September 2022
This is the second award given to Dr Viterbo for his book, Problematizing Law, Rights, and Childhood in Israel/Palestine, published by Cambridge University Press.
Professor Eric Heinze delivers a guest lecture on ‘Human Rights and Free Speech’
21 September 2022
The lecture was organised by the Ethical Society of North Winchester.
Professor Eric Heinze spoke at a conference on 21st Century Antisemitism
15 September 2022
Professor Eric Heinze took part in a panel at the Fažana Media Festival
13 September 2022
Professor Eric Heinze discusses free speech at NEIU
30 August 2022
Why UK approach to replacing the Human Rights Act is just as worrying as the replacement itself
29 June 2022
Queen Mary's Professor of Human Rights Law, Merris Amos, has written for the Conversation about plans to replace the 1998 Act with a new UK Bill.
Rwanda asylum seekers: UK government criticised over 'cruel' plan
19 April 2022
Dr Niovi Vavoula and Professor Elspeth Guild featured in the media discussing the latest plans.
Dr Hedi Viterbo wins Socio-Legal Studies Association Early Career Book Prize
14 April 2022
Dr Viterbo won this award for his book, Problematizing Law, Rights, and Childhood in Israel/Palestine, published by Cambridge University Press
Greece accused of violating European citizen rights and forcing people fleeing persecution back across the border in landmark legal case
24 February 2022
An unprecedented legal application has been submitted at the European Court of Human Rights, challenging the racially motivated pushback of a French citizen from EU territory. Prof Violeta Moreno-Lax, from the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London, is providing legal representation alongside a team of international lawyers.
A human right to nature: The people suing governments for environmental damage
25 January 2022
Professor Malgosia Fitzmaurice speaks to Science Focus about the trend of giving nature its own rights.
Queen Mary Law Professors formally sworn in as Honorary QCs
4 November 2021
On Monday 1 November, Professors Rachael Mulheron and Alan Dignam from the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London were formally sworn as Queen’s Counsel Honoris Causa by the Lord Chancellor at the Queen’s Counsel Appointment Ceremony at Westminster Hall.
Professor Lastra to be part of panel event on the role of Central Banks in dealing with environmental and social challenges
5 October 2021
The round table events is organised by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
Queen Mary Lead Study Investigates the EU Approach to Migration in the Mediterranean
17 June 2021
Dr Violeta Moreno-Lax was lead author of the expert study that examines the EU approach on migration in the Mediterranean, covering developments from the 2015 refugee crisis up to the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
Queen Mary Law Professors appointed as new Queen’s Counsel
17 December 2020
Professor Rachael Mulheron and Professor Alan Dignam from Queen Mary’s School of Law have been appointed as new Queen’s Counsel (QC) in England and Wales.
Professor Shazia Choudhry ratified as an Academic Bencher at the Inner Temple
28 October 2020
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London.
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Professor Merris Amos presents her research on COVID-19 and human rights law
Woodrow Wilson's racist legacy and decolonising modern sanctions
17 July 2020
Dr Eva Nanopoulos pens an opinion piece for Al Jazeera about Woodrow Wilson's racist legacy
How one leaky rubber boat could sink the EU's entire migration policy
27 May 2020
Dr Violeta Moreno Lax comments on on Italy’s deal with Libya regarding migrant ‘pull-backs’ for The Correspondent
Professor Elspeth Guild has co-written a blog for the Horizon 2020 project PROTECT! on refugees and external borders in Europe during Covid19
10 academic lawyers, including Dr Ruth Fletcher, publish IHR-compliant abortion legislation for Ireland
31 July 2015
New abortion legislation for Ireland has been drafted by legal experts and published by the open access journal Feminists@law on 29 June. The model law is intended to be a contribution to public discussion of abortion law reform in Ireland and internationally.
Holding the Government to Account for England's Housing Crisis through the ICESCR Parallel Reporting Process
16 June 2015
The United Kingdom is approaching its 6th Periodic Report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), which will assess its performance and compliance with its obligations under ICESCR. Reading the Government’s Report, there is no acknowledgement of the housing crisis unfolding across England.
TTIP and CETA: the trade deals threatening British democracy
21 May 2015
In this post, Sam Fowles, postgraduate research student at QMUL's School of Law, argues that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a threat to British democracy, and should not be ratified.
Time for binding United Nations rules on violence against women and girls
12 May 2015
The United Nations must adopt binding international rules to help eliminate violence against women and girls, according to Professor Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women.
Dr Jessie Hohmann's report and quote in The Guardian 'UK housing crisis 'in breach of human rights'
28 April 2015
The UK is in breach of its own United Nations human rights commitment to provide people with adequate homes because the housing crisis is so serious, according to a report authored by QMUL’s Dr Jessie Hohmann.
Professor Eric Heinze 'MP exploits defamation law to sue journalist'
12 February 2015
UK Judge on European Court of Human Rights says Court must change to remain effective
6 February 2015
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) must continue to change if it is to remain effective, according to Judge Paul Mahoney, the UK Judge on the ECHR. Judge Mahoney was speaking at an event organised by the Human Rights Collegium at Queen Mary University of London.
Torture Allegations, Racial Conflicts… and Leadership on Human Rights?
21 January 2015
In this article, Professor Eric Heinze of QMUL's School of Law, argues that the United States, whose government has "has committed grave violations" in the area of human rights, has placed its leadership role in question.
Professor Eric Heinze comments on Senate CIA torture report release
11 December 2014
Shazia Choudhry: 16-year-old twins 'join ISIS'
15 July 2014
Campaign launches to end sexual violence in war zones
28 May 2014
Leading female campaigners, human rights lawyers – including Queen Mary University of London’s Professor Geraldine Van Bueren QC – and UNICEF UK joined the Foreign Secretary William Hague this week to discuss how to drive forward international action to end the rape and abuse of children in war zones.
Professor Eric Heinze - Are we really wedded to gay rights?
6 March 2014
For British gay rights campaigners, 2014 already looks like a year to remember. England and Wales will join the small club of nations that allow same-sex couples to marry. Meanwhile, the Sochi winter Olympics have sparked global outrage against Russian homophobia. Surely reasons to celebrate?
Rights against democracy - recalling International Human Rights Day
10 December 2013
Human ‘rights’ have emerged progressively, over centuries. They have transformed millennia of thinking about politics, culture and law. They paint a portrait of individuals as, by nature, equal holders of inalienable rights. (Many protagonists have countered with notions of group rights, but those remain controversial in theory and practice.)
UK Human Rights Blog Post: Should we have an enforceable right to food? Professor Geraldine Van Bueren QC
6 November 2013
Professor Geraldine Van Bueren QC writes on the UK Human Rights Blog:
"People are going hungry in England because England, to the detriment of the poor, has forgotten its legal history.
Nearly eight hundred years ago, in 1216 English law first recognized a right to food. Yet between April and September this year over 350,000 people received three days’ emergency food from the Trussell Trust food banks, triple the numbers helped in the same period last year..." Read the full post on the UK Human Rights Blog.
Law professor turns to theatre to highlight the human rights abuses committed by global businesses
9 October 2013
A series of thought-provoking plays, aimed at raising the awareness of the controversial issue of human abuses carried out by international businesses working in developing countries, will be premiered across the UK.
Double success as law professors appointed as honorary QCs
28 February 2013
A Conversation with two former death row inmates
25 February 2013
