Peace, Justice and International Law Research Group

The Peace, Justice and International Law research group brings together an exceptional team of scholars from Middlesex University’s campuses in London, Dubai, and Mauritius, whose research and teaching engage critically with the most urgent global challenges of our time.

In a world marked by protracted conflict, humanitarian crises, and threats to the rule of law, the need for principled, expert-led research in international law has never been greater. As public interest in international legal accountability grows, so too does our responsibility and opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global dialogue and policy.

Our members work at the forefront of public international law, international human rights law, international criminal law, and international humanitarian law, advancing knowledge and practice on issues of peace, conflict, accountability, and justice.

We aim to foster high-quality, high-impact research through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and public engagement. We bring a strongly interdisciplinary lens to our work, engaging with history, philosophy, film, literature, science, technology, and the visual arts to explore the broader societal impact of international law. This approach reflects our commitment to connecting law with the humanities and social sciences, and to asking innovative questions that push the boundaries of traditional legal scholarship.

Our objectives

• Driving global change: Our work aligns with global priorities, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and promotes collaborative research in international law and related fields, both within the university and with external partners.
• Empowering the next generation: We create a vibrant intellectual community for postgraduate and doctoral students, offering personalised mentoring, research opportunities, and enriching experiences such as regular seminar series, guest lectures, international study trips, and public engagement events.
• Shaping international law in practice: From academic insight to real-world influence, we contribute directly to the development of international law through legal submissions to international courts and tribunals, including amicus curiae briefs and third-party interventions.

Our research

Members of the Peace, Justice and International Law Research Group have an outstanding track record of securing prestigious external research funding from leading bodies such as the ESRC, the Leverhulme Trust, and the Nuffield Foundation. Their expertise has also been recognised through consultancy work for major international organisations, including the Council of Europe.

As part of our commitment to advancing scholarship and fostering knowledge exchange, members of the group are actively engaged in the authorship of monographs that reflect their diverse expertise across international law, human rights, and transitional justice. These cover a wide range of critical topics, including aggression, genocide, international corporate criminal liability, international humanitarian law, regional and international human rights courts and mechanisms, and the working of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

These publications offer original, in-depth analysis of some of the most urgent challenges in international law and are designed to engage both academic audiences and policymakers.

Recent and upcoming publications include:

• William Schabas: The International Legal Order's Colour Line: Racism, Racial Discrimination, and the Making of International Law (OUP 2023)
• Philip Leach and Alice Donald: Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights, (OUP, 5th edition 2026)
• Tenia Kyriazi and Daphne Demetriou: ‘Human Trafficking in the Middle East’ in R. Piotrowicz, C. Rijken and B. Uhl (eds), The Routledge Handbook on Human Trafficking (Routledge, 2nd edition 2026).

Together, our work shapes global debates on human rights, international criminal law, and corporate accountability.

Ongoing research of topical issues includes:

• The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine - Giulia Pecorella
• Corporate complicity in the Palestinian occupied territories and corporate accountability under the draft Articles on Crimes against Humanity - Alessandra De Tommaso
• The human rights implications of the immigration debate in the UK - Alice Donald
• The impacts of litigation relating to grave crimes and mass atrocities in conflict situations - Philip Leach

We have links with key professional networks including the European Society of International Law, the International Law Association, the Association Internationale de Droit Pénal, the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, and the Open Council of Europe Academic Networks (OCEAN).

• Dr Manjida Ahamed
• Dr Anthony Cullen
• Dr Daphne Demetriou (Dubai)
• Dr Alessandra De Tommaso
• Professor Alice Donald
• Professor Tenia Kyriazi (Dubai)
• Professor Philip Leach
• Professor Belen Olmos Giupponi
• Dr Giulia Pecorella
• Neel Purmah (Mauritius)
• Professor William A. Schabas

Postgraduate research

The MPhil/PhD programme in Law at Middlesex University supports a thriving community of approximately 30 doctoral researchers at any one time. The programme prioritises the recruitment of high-calibre candidates with a strong commitment to international law and justice.

The Peace, Justice and International Law Research Group offers a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment in which doctoral researchers can thrive, supported by the university’s global reputation and extensive professional networks. Group activities, including seminars, conferences, and public events, are open to doctoral students, creating an inclusive and collaborative space that enhances both academic development and career prospects.

Among our recently graduated PhD students, we proudly include:

• Dr Elena Borsacchi - the interest(s) of justice and international criminal law
• Dr Patrick Iga - the interplay between refugee law and international criminal law
• Dr Ezequiel Jimenez - the role played by the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court.

Current PhD projects include:

• the right to self-determination in post-decolonised Africa (Fru Ndemeno-Tegomoh)
• state policy as an element of international crimes (Tofig Shahniyarov)
• legitimacy of the International Criminal Court (Gunes Atay Unuvar)
• restitution of property rights of victims of armed conflicts in Europe; achievements and challenges with enforcement (Narine Gasparyan).

Post-doctoral projects include Kiruba Munusamy, SENSS Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2025-2026 (Transforming Institutional Justice for Caste-Based Discrimination and Violence).

Knowledge exchange and teaching

The research group is strongly committed to knowledge exchange and research-led teaching. Our activities include the Peace, Justice and International Law Seminar Series, which brings together academics, practitioners, and students to explore contemporary debates and developments in international law.

Recent seminar topics have included: sanctions and international law; state cooperation with the International Criminal Court; environmental protection and international legal frameworks; the right to self-determination; and recent developments at the International Court of Justice. These sessions foster critical dialogue and strengthen the group’s role as a hub for informed, interdisciplinary engagement.

Members of the group also contribute to teaching on our postgraduate programmes, including the LLM International Law and Human Rights and the LLM International Business and Commercial Law, ensuring that students benefit from cutting-edge research, real-world insights, and exposure to global legal challenges.

The summer school on 'Genocide, Aggression, and International Accountability Mechanisms' to be held in 2026 will provide an in-depth exploration of the most pressing issues in international criminal law and human rights. Participants will engage with key topics including the legal frameworks governing genocide and aggression, the role of international courts and tribunals, state and individual responsibility, and the intersection between business and human rights.

Outputs

Examples of recent publications by members of the research group include:

• William Schabas, Genocide in International Law (CUP, 3rd edition 2025)
• Giulia Pecorella, The United States of America and the Crime of Aggression (Routledge, 2021)
• Alessandra De Tommaso, Corporate Liability and International Criminal Law (Routledge, 2023)

Events and media

Members of the group are actively engaged in public discourse and regularly contribute to media coverage on pressing issues in international law. Their expertise is featured through interviews, invited talks, and high-profile blog, helping to inform public understanding and policy debate.

Recent engagements have addressed topics such as the war in Ukraine, the genocide in Gaza, corporate accountability for international crimes, the role of international courts, and challenges to the international rule of law in an era of geopolitical instability.

Get in touch

For further information about the group or to discuss potential collaborations, please feel free to contact us:

• Dr Giulia Pecorella: g.pecorella@mdx.ac.uk
• Dr Alessandra De Tommaso: a.detommaso@mdx.ac.uk