Personal statement

I was appointed as Professor of Practice in Human Rights Law in August 2019. My role is twofold. Firstly, I bring to the university experience and expertise from national and international human rights practice and, secondly, I promote the university whilst engaged in such practice (further details are to be found in the Expertise and Capabilities section).

This invloves my teaching on the Human Rights LLM and helping build the Centre for the Study of Human Rights Law into a national and international centre of excellence.

A current example of my national practice is having been appointed in 2019 by the First Minister as independent Co-Chair of the Natioal Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership. It has published a Report in March 2021 and its recommendations for a new and ambitious post-Brexit and post-Covid human rights framework for Scotland will be the basis of a Human Rights Bill to be enacted this parliamentary session. 

A current example of my international practice is leading a joint project of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Development Programme. It will research, analyse and support the development of good practice by member states in implementing their international human rights treaty obligations. This is part of responding to the call by the UN Secretary General to provide practical guidance on the Universal Periodic Review which is a flagship accountability mechanism of the UN and is linked to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

My motivation and ambition as Professor of Practice is to help equip students to become human rights practicioners and leaders.