This submission presented three impact case studies carried out by 32 members of staff in the School of Law and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) at Middlesex University.
The impact we achieved
Applied legal research undertaken by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) based at Middlesex has provided strategic direction to litigation at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) against states in the post-Soviet region. Since 2014, EHRAC has been instrumental not only in extending human rights protection in the region but also in strengthening the rule of law in Europe and developing jurisprudence internationally. Key impacts of its work include:
The research behind it
EHRAC’s unique institutional status within a university enables academic research to work in synergy with ground-breaking strategic litigation. Comprising 16 lawyers and programme staff who mentor litigating human rights NGOs and lawyers in Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Armenia, EHRAC exposes systemic violations in respect of post-conflict societies, state surveillance, judicial independence, political prosecutions and gender-based violence, among other areas.
Our litigation impact is underpinned by Professor Leach’s and Dr Donald’s joint and individual work, including analyses of and research into:
The people involved at Middlesex and beyond
Our research team consisted of Professor Philip Leach and Dr Alice Donald.
Their body of work included collaboration with research associates and investigators across disciplines in the UK and other European countries.
Photo from EHRAC’s Legal Skills Development Programme (LSDP) which takes place annually in Strasbourg, the home of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights
The impact we achieved
Indigenous cultures are under threat of extinction because of the way development is being imposed on them, destroying their land and way of life. Despite some significant progress, many indigenous peoples are still not recognised by national governments. This presents enormous challenges to indigenous peoples’ rights to lands, territories, and resources. Likewise, minorities worldwide face exclusion, discrimination and denial of their fundamental economic, social and cultural rights.
We analysed international and comparative law for a comprehensive survey of discrimination against indigenous peoples and minorities. This work has had the following impacts:
The research behind it
This research has brought about significant impacts for minorities and indigenous peoples by:
The people involved at Middlesex and beyond
The research team includes Professor Joshua Castellino, Dr Elvira Domínguez-Redondo, and Dr Cathal Doyle.
Other organisations involved or implicated include UN human rights mechanisms, SOMO/The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the International Human Rights Institute, the Minority Rights Group and indigenous peoples’ organizations in Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Suriname and Kenya. We collaborated with litigating organisations in India, Argentina, Germany and Mexico, and with judiciaries and legislative assemblies in India, Morocco, Bangladesh, Venezuela and Europe.
Apu (community leader) Aurelio Chino observing what remained of sacred lake Shansho-cocha in the Peruvian Amazon after the oil company Pluspetrol “remediated it” and the lake disappeared (Photo courtesy: Stefan Kisler and the Indigenous Federation of Quechua people of the Pastaza river basin, FEDIQUEP)
The impact we achieved
In recent years the EU has witnessed a significant breakdown in compliance with the rule of law. This research examined and documented these systematic and co-ordinated efforts by some national authorities to dismantle checks and balances and to establish one-party states, with a special focus on the situation in Hungary and Poland.
Our findings and recommendations into this urgent problem have been reflected, and even transposed directly, into legislative wording and judicial decision-making by European courts. They have been drawn on in the agenda-setting activity of policymakers, judicial networks, research bodies, think tanks, and civil society organisations. We have also contributed to shaping public opinion through coverage in broadcast media nationally and internationally and when adopted or contested by engaged online groups.
The research behind it
Professor Laurent Pech’s publications focus on the rule of law in Hungary and Poland. Dr Joelle Grogan has addressed the rule of law implications of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. With Dr Joseph Corkin, all were members of Reconnect, a H2020 consortium project between 2018 and 2022, and of which Pech was Principal Investigator of the work package dedicated to rule of law which included an award of nearly €320k to Middlesex.
Through publications and consultancy and public engagement with professionals, Pech and Grogan’s research has:
The people involved at Middlesex and beyond
The research team includes Professor Laurent Pech and Dr Joelle Grogan. Their work has been cited and used by the European Parliament, European Court of Justice and EU Commission as well as courts in the Netherlands and Poland.
