Social Change Through Law

Legal research often takes place in a vacuum, disconnected from the outside world. This Group works to close this gap by using research to address issues which affect the day-to-day lives of those in Scotland and beyond. The Group will engage in research-led dialogue with the public, policy- and decision-makers to strengthen access to human rights, increase legal protections for equality and diversity, and improve access to justice. In doing so, it will help place UWS at the forefront of Scotland’s ambitions to be a leader in these areas and to make Scotland a safe and welcoming home for all.

Contact
Dr Samuel White
Email: Samuel.White@uws.ac.uk
School of Business and Creative Industries

Research Themes

At present there are a number of priority areas:

• food sovereignty, and the need for food systems in which the people who are responsible fr the production, distribution and consumption of food are also in control the means by which food is produced and distributed as well as the policies which underly this process linking directly with the UN sustainable development goals of Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12);
• the recognition and securing of minority rights, in a wide range of contexts and settings, from international criminal law processes (e.g. prosecutions of the crime of Genocide before the International Criminal Court) to LGBTQ+ rights, cultural herniate rights and supporting those who are caught up in the UK’s legal system without appropriate support, linking with the UN sustainable goal of Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) and of peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16);
• improving access to justice in Scotland and the UK, particularly in the administrative justice context. Current research focuses on both the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the right of those in mental heath care to vote, and the wider problem of confronting and combatting unmet legal need. This links with the UN sustainable goal of Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) and of peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16); and
• the development of a new Scottish human rights framework, particularly in light of the proposed changes to the Human Rights Act 1998 at the UK level, coupled with the development of a uniquely Scottish approach to the legal protection of human rights in law. This links with the UN sustainable goal of Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) and of peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16).

Key project summaries

‘Using Human Rights Treaties in Scottish Courts’ is an RSE Small Grant Scheme-funded project, currently in progress it is led by Dr Samuel White and Dr Susannah Paul. The project aims to map how Scottish courts make use of human rights treaties and to gather data from the Scottish legal profession to understand the current use of these instruments and then to translate this into impactful training for the legal profession. This training is aimed at improving the awareness of these instruments as well as outlining ways to use them more effectively when arguing cases before Scottish courts with a view to improving the realisation of human rights within the Scotland.