Michael’s research considers the United Kingdom’s engagement with the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) human rights mechanism. He is particularly concerned with determining why the UPR recommendations accepted by the UK fail to ‘translate’ into domestic law.

Michael’s thesis investigates the role of the UK Government, its National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), and Parliament. There is a focus on understanding how, and whether, these institutions’ utilise UPR recommendations to develop and scrutinise policy. In doing so, this thesis will provide greater transparency of the acceptance or curtailing of human rights standards in the formation of UK law. Importantly, this emphasis on creating transparency will engender an enhanced understanding of the working of the parliamentary and governmental processes, and the extent to which actors within these institutions engage and interact with UK civil society on these issues. An ultimate aim of the research will be to uncover the evolving nature of UK sovereignty as a process of political and civil society dialogue. It will enhance the UPR-centred work of the UK’s NHRIs and parliamentarians, and further equip these actors in their scrutiny of the human rights standards.

You can learn more about Michael’s research by watching this short explainer:

Other Projects:

In addition to his doctoral research, Michael is working on the following projects:

• Completion of HEA Fellowship Application.
• Submission of stakeholder report for the UK’s fourth UN’s UPR in 2022.
• Completion of one book review (submitted for editing) and one article (accepted with minor revisions).