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James Sweeney

James Sweeney

Prof. James A. Sweeney's research is about the after-effects of conflict: principally human rights in transitional democracies, and the rights of refugees. His monograph, 'The European Court of Human Rights in the post-Cold War Era: Universality in Transition' was published in hardback by Routledge in November 2012, and in paperback in 2014. His work on the human rights of failed asylum seekers was cited by the House of Lords in the case of R (on the application of M) v Slough BC [2008] UKHL 52, by the Court of Appeal in R. (on the application of SL) v Westminster City Council [2011] EWCA Civ 954, and most recently in R. (on the application of Refugee Action) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 1033 (Admin). In the latter case Home Secretary Theresa May was found to have acted irrationally by freezing the level of cash support to be provided to asylum seekers to meet their essential living needs, for the financial year 2013/14, at the rates which had applied since 2011.

Prof. Sweeney has acted as an expert advisor to the Council of Europe in relation to freedom of assembly projects in Armenia, Azerbaijan (with the Venice Commission), Georgia, and Kosovo. In March 2011 he delivered human rights legal training to judges of the Ukrainian Supreme Court as part of a UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office project. Likewise in 2013 and 2014 he convened a series of workshops on human rights and judicial interpretation for the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Kosovo, on behalf of the FCO. Throughout 2009 he acted as an expert advisor to the EU's Committee of the Regions as it prepared its Opinion on reforms to the Common European Asylum System.

Prof. Sweeney joined Lancaster University Law School in 2013. Prior to that, he has worked at Durham, Newcastle and Hull. From 2011-2013 he was Deputy Director of Durham Global Security Institute.

Briferendum Series

Theresa May's call for UK to exit European Convention on Human Rights will delight human rights abusers

Apr 27, 2016 08:14 am UTC| Insights & Views

Theresa May has surprised nobody by calling for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The Home Secretary isnt fond of the convention or the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights. Her...

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Economy

Why China’s economy has hit a wall

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Vladimir Putin’s gold strategy explains why sanctions against Russia have failed

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Mentorship is key to improving social and economic outcomes for Black youth

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Politics

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Science

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Technology

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Ferrari, SK On Join Forces to Develop Next-Generation Supercar Batteries

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Shiba Inu Surges with $219M Whale Activity, Vitalik Buterin Highlights SHIB

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Illuvium's $12M Funding Boost Precedes Q2 Game Launch And Airdrop Tease

Illuvium a blockchain gaming universe, secures $12 million funding ahead of Q2 2024 game launch, hinting at a significant token airdrop. Illuvium Labs Secures $12 Million Funding Ahead of Q2 Game Launch Illuvium...
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