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Research Memorandum on the Legal Status of Transgender Individuals

In 2016 the CPP submitted a research memorandum on an active case before the Superior Court of Quebec. The case has been brought by the Centre for Gender Advocacy and four individual plaintiffs. The plaintiffs seek declaratory relief that provisions of the Quebec Civil Code are incompatible with provincial and federal human rights instruments protecting transgender individuals. The report focused on issues of transgender rights from a comparative perspective, including research on US, Australian, UK and ECHR law.

The research team was supervised by three members of the CPP Executive Committee, Victoria Halsall (an LLM Student), Thomas Liu (an LLM Student) and John Adenitire (a PhD student). The researchers were Ruth McGuinness (an LLM student), Andrew Brown (an LLM student), Kirsty Corby (an LLM Student), Rebecca Foy (an LLM student), Minh Bui (an LLM student) and Amir Cahane (an LLM student). The team was advised by Prof David Feldman and Dr Jens Scherpe.

Research Memorandum in Response to a Request from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

In March of 2016 the CPP completed the fifth research memorandum for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on an active case before the court. A team of graduate students tackled a research question spanning national, regional, and international jurisdictions and produced a rigorous and substantial analysis of existing and developing law of human rights.

The Inter-American Court, established in 1969 and brought into existence to protect human rights in the Americas, serves as a safeguard of Convention rights in twenty-five American Nations. The Court decides contentious proceedings against American States and gives advisory opinions on the interpretation of the American Convention on Human Rights.

The research team was supervised by two members of the CPP Executive Committee, Luíza Leão Soares Pereira (a PhD student) and Massimo Lando (a PhD student). The researchers were Karla Jones (an LLM student), Sam Humphrey (an LLM Student), Luke Villers (an LLM Student), Emanuel Giakoumakis (an LLM Student), Natalie Jones (an LLM Student), Ruth McGuinness (an LLM Student), Gabrielle Elliott-Williams (a PhD Student) and Rosalind Comyn (an LLM student). The team was advised by Prof David Feldman.

Report on Privacy Issues in Black Money Investigations for the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

In February 2015, the Cambridge Pro Bono Project submitted a report to the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, an independent research organisation based in New Delhi, India. The report dealt with questions regarding the privacy issues that arise as a consequence of disclosure of bank account details in the context of black money investigations. The report focused on the legal mechanisms that address such concerns in International law and in the jurisdictions of India, the UK, USA, Indonesia.

The research team was supervised by two members of the CPP Executive Committee: Diana Tang (LLM) and Rohan Kothari (LLM). The research team comprised of four LLM students: James Fenelon, Anupama Sharma, Abhishikta Mallick and Astrid Kohar, and one Phd candidate, Ann Kristin Glenster. The team was advised by Professor David Feldman.

Research Memorandum Comparing Approaches to Fast-Track and Specialised Courts for Sexual Violence Offences

In March 2015, the CPP submitted a research memorandum to the Centre for Law and Policy Research (CLPR), in Bangalore, examining the use of specialised sexual violence courts in South Africa, Spain, and Liberia, as well as specific jurisdiction fast-track criminal courts in Australia and South Africa. The memorandum analysed the procedures adopted in these jurisdictions with a view to achieving context-sensitive, fast, and fair justice, and summarised documented evaluations of their effectiveness. The CPP’s comparative study contributed to a report being prepared by the CLPR assessing fast-track courts set up in Karnataka to hear cases of sexual assault against women, and special courts set up under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act to hear cases of sexual assault against children.

The research team was supervised by two members of the CPP Executive Committee, Jennifer Klinck (LLM student) and Suzanne Zhou (LLM student). The researchers were three LLM students: Audrey Augusto, Genevieve Burley, and Alfred Yu. The team's Faculty Adviser was Nicola Padfield.

Research Memorandum in Response to a Request From the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

In March of 2015 the CPP completed the fourth research memorandum for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on an active case before the court. A team of graduate students tackled a research question spanning national, regional, and international jurisdictions and produced a rigorous and substantial analysis of existing and developing law of human rights.

The Inter-American Court, established in 1969 and brought into existence to protect human rights in the Americas, serves as a safeguard of Convention rights in twenty-five American Nations. The Court decides contentious proceedings against American States and gives advisory opinions on the interpretation of the American Convention on Human Rights.

The research team was supervised by two members of the CPP Executive Committee, Darragh Coffey (a PhD student) and Stevie Martin (an LLM student). The researchers were seven LLM students, Reginald Aziza, Maria Clara Cardoso, Jesse Coleman, Jochem de Kok, Luíza Leão Soares Pereira, J. Shi, and C. Y Wan. The team was advised by Dr Simon De Smet.

A Review of Rights-Based Approach to Tuberculosis for the Chicago International Human Rights Clinic

In May 2015, the CPP submitted a research memorandum to the Chicago International Human Rights Clinic, for their project 'Developing a Rights-Based Approach to Tuberculosis'. The memorandum examined the treatment of human rights issues relating to tuberculosis in the case law of the European and Inter-American human rights systems and in two domestic jurisdictions, and included research on comparative human rights approaches to the treatment of prisoners, detention for quarantine, worker's compensation, employment discrimination, migrants' rights, and indigenous peoples' rights. The research will feed into materials for a judicial training workshop held by the Clinic in New Delhi in December 2015.

The research team was supervised by two members of the CPP Executive Committee, Suzanne Zhou (LLM student) and Jennifer Klinck (LLM student). The researchers were three LLM students, Audrey Augusto, Clay Hackett, and Emily Vale. The team was advised by Dr Stephanie Palmer.

Research Memorandum on Defamation, Censorship and Broadcast Licensing Regime in the United Kingdom

In May 2014, the CPP submitted a research memorandum to Blueprint for Free Speech, a free library of research on freedom of expression laws around the world, on a request by Trust Law Connect. The memorandum tackled research questions concerning the defamation, censorship and broadcast licensing regime in the UK and highlighted gaps in the law and possible reforms in each of the three areas.

The research team was supervised by two members of the CPP Executive Committee, Chintan Chandrachud (PhD student) and Trina Malone (LLM student). The researchers comprised five LLM students – Asimina Michailidou, Alessia Riposi, Ashleigh Light, Emma Horner and Manini Brar. The team was advised by Professor David Feldman and Dr Stephanie Palmer.

Research Memorandum in Response to a Request From the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

In March of 2014 the CPP completed the third research memorandum for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on an active case before the court. A team of graduate students tackled a research question spanning national, regional, and international jurisdictions and produced a rigorous and substantial analysis of existing and developing law of human rights.

The Inter-American Court, established in 1969 and brought into existence to protect human rights in the Americas, serves as a safeguard of Convention rights in twenty five American Nations. The Court decides contentious proceedings against American States and gives advisory opinions on the interpretation of the American Convention on Human Rights.

The research team was supervised by to members of the CPP Executive Committee, Nino Guruli (PhD student) and Peter Dunne (an LLM student). The researchers were eight LLM students (Moon J. Choi, Stephen Clark, Julia Dornbusch, Franca Luisa Maria Maurer, Dragana Nikolic, Gaiane Nuridzhanian, Joe O'Connor and Alice Ruzza). The team was advised by Professor David Feldman and Dr Claire Fenton-Glynn.

Review of access to medicines for the Open Society Justice Initiative

In February 2014, the CPP submitted a research memorandum to the Open Society Justice Initiative, which examined European Union law currently regulating access to medicines. In addition, this memorandum identified and assessed key legal strategies for promoting increased access to medicines in the European Union, particularly in newly impoverished member states.

The project was supervised by Jessica Staples (a LLM student) and Emma Bickerstaffe (a PhD student). The members of the research team were Edward Bechard-Torres, Maximillian Evans, Harriet Fox, Meg O’Brien, Sarah Trotter and Adure Uzo-Peters (LLM students). The team was supervised by Professor David Feldman and Dr Michael Waibel

Review of global human trafficking networks for the Open Society Justice Initiative

In January 2013 the CPP submitted a report to the Open Society Justice Initiative identifying potential cases of human trafficking, particularly trafficking for sexual exploitation, which may be submitted as test cases to the Office of the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome Statute.

The research was supervised by Emma Bickerstaffe (a PhD student) and undertaken by Tara Radakrishnan (an LLM student). The team was advised by Dr Michael Waibel

Reviewing the definition of torture under international law for Blackstone Chambers

In April 2013, the CPP submitted a memorandum in response to a research request from Blackstone Chambers.  The memorandum, which was to be used in upcoming litigation, regarded two aspects of the definition of torture under international law: the commission of torture by non-state actors, and whether the definition of torture is affected by the context in which an allegation of torture arises.

The research team was supervised by Naomi Hart, a PhD student and member of the CPP Executive Committee.  The researchers included four PhD students (Jason Allen, Nicolas Alfonsi, Natasa Mavronicola and Odette Murray) and three LLM students (Stephen Bailey, Sebastian Bult and Lorena Dunne).  The project was supervised by Dr Stephanie Palmer

Research Memorandum in Response to a Request From the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

In March 2013 the CPP submitted its second research memorandum in response to a request from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The memorandum dealt with a case that was active before the Court and involved researching laws and jurisprudence from numerous domestic, regional and international jurisdictions around the world.

The Inter-American Court was established in 1969 through the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR). The Court has jurisdiction to decide contentious proceedings against the American States which have accepted its jurisdiction and give advisory opinions on the interpretation of the ACHR.

The research team was supervised by two members of the CPP Executive Committee, Naomi Hart (a PhD student) and Edgar Espejel (an LLM student). The researchers were two PhD students (Ann-Sofie Cloots and Odette Murray) and two LLM students (Mark Ma and Artem Shaipov). The team was advised by Professor David Feldman

Applying Equality and Non-discrimination Law to Advance Socio-Economic Rights

In January 2013, the CPP submitted a report to the Equal Rights Trust (ERT) in response to a request for assistance on the ERT's project entitled "Applying Equality and Non-discrimination Law to Advance Socio-Economic Rights". The CPP's report consisted of a comprehensive compendium of relevant case law from a number of international bodies, regional bodies and domestic jurisdictions, as well as a summary of the relevant legislative provisions in the domestic jurisdictions examined. The CPP also provided a thematic summary of its findings. The work will be used in a report the ERT plans to publish later in 2013, aimed at strategic litigators seeking to advance the realisation of socio-economic rights. The research team comprised eight students: five LLM students (Shona Daly, Carolina Helfmann, Tebogo Ketshabile, Rebecca Savage and Stephanie Wookey); one Diploma in Legal Studies student (Lindsay Heck); and two PhD students (Samantha Godwin and Nora Ni Loideain). The team was supervised by a PhD student member of the CPP Executive Committee (Shona Wilson Stark) and advised by Professor David Feldman and Dr Stephanie Palmer, both members of the Cambridge Pro Bono Project Executive Committee. 

Cambridge/Michigan Roundtable on the Future of Refugee Convention Supervision

The Cambridge Pro Bono Project has completed three background papers exploring options for the reinforcement or reconceptualisation of international supervision of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

On 28/29 September 2012 the papers served as a point of departure for a Roundtable on the Future of Refugee Convention Supervision, held at Downing College in Cambridge. The Roundtable was co-convened by Professor James Hathaway, Director of the Program in Refugee and Asylum Law at the University of Michigan, and Justice Anthony North, Immediate Past President of the International Association of Refugee Law Judges. The Roundtable involved a small group of judicial and academic experts, including Baroness Brenda Hale of the United Kingdom Supreme Court, and the UNHCR's Director of International Protection, Volker Türk. The graduate law students who took lead roles in drafting the papers attended the Roundtable as rapporteurs.

In total, a team of fifteen Ph.D. and LL.M. students worked on the preparation of the three working papers. The team was led by Jason Pobjoy, the founding Chair of the Cambridge Pro Bono Project, and advised by Professor David Feldman. The supervisors of the three working papers were Alysia Blackham (Ph.D.), Claire Nielsen (Ph.D.) Katie O'Byrne (LL.M.), Josh Scheinert (LL.M.) and Joanna Whiteman (LL.M.). The lead researchers for the project were Daniel Costelloe, Konrad Duden, Sarah Grimmer, Callista Harris, Leigh Hudson, Tarini Mehta, Toni Palmer, Stuart Scott, Daniella Waddoup. Additional research assistance was provided by Alice Lam, Claire Simmonds, Janaki Tampi, Chanelle Taoi and Alex White. 

"Equality for All: Submission on Australia’s Proposed Reform of Anti-discrimination Legislation"

In March 2011 the Cambridge Pro Bono Committee submitted a report to the Australian Attorney General regarding Australia’s proposed reform of anti-discrimination legislation.

The Cambridge Pro Bono Project took the view that the strengths and weaknesses of the United Kingdom experience in the consideration and passage of the Equality Act 2010 might offer the Australian government some valuable lessons. The main purpose of the report was thus to provide a thoroughly researched brief on the UK experience, and identify the lessons that Australia might draw from that experience.

A team of twelve postgraduate students worked on the project, comprising five Ph.D. students and seven LL.M. students. The research team was advised by Professor David Feldman.

A copy of the report is available here

"Crowd control and the right to life: Brief to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions"

In March 2011 the Cambridge Pro Bono Committee provided a brief to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Professor Christof Heyns.

The report addressed the legal frameworks governing public demonstrations in each of Egypt, Germany, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mexico, Nepal, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

A team of twelve postgraduate students worked on the project, comprising four Ph.D. students and eight LL.M. students. The research team was advised by Dr Guglielmo Verdirame

Research Memorandum in Response to a Request From the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

In February 2012 the CPP submitted a research memorandum in response to a request from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

The Inter-American Court was established in 1969 through the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR). The Court has jurisdiction to decide contentious proceedings against the American States which have accepted its jurisdiction and give advisory opinions on the interpretation of the ACHR.

The research team comprised seven students: five LL.M. students, Gavin Beard, Georgina Churchhouse, Maria Fanou, Kai Leung, Rowan Nicholson; and 2 Ph.D students, Naomi Burke and Sophie Eastwood. The team was supervised by two Ph.D students members of the CPP Executive Committee, Federica Paddeu and Claire Simmonds, and advised by Dr Stephanie Palmer and Dr Michael Waibel, all members of the Cambridge Pro Bono Project Executive Committee.