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Dr Cynthia Umezulike

Lecturer in Law

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Portrait photo of Cynthia Umezulike, Lecturer in Law at The University of Buckingham

Dr Cynthia Chisom Umezulike is a Human Rights Lawyer, Researcher and Activist. She holds a Bachelor of Laws with (Hons) from Igbinedion University Okada and is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She has a Master’s degree (LLM) from Russell Group, Queen Mary, University of London and a second Master’s Degree in ‘International Law and Criminal Justice from the University of East London. Cynthia obtained a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Law from Birkbeck, University of London focused on International Human Rights Law and is a recipient of the Gilchrist Trust special notation recognising outstanding PhD research across the Birkbeck University of London.

Dr Umezulike has extensive expertise on international human rights instruments, norms and principles, having trained and practised within the field of human rights, sustainable environment and climate change, through her work as the President and Chief Consultant of the Global Human Rights Centre and she continues to provide advisory consultation to international organisations, NGO’’s, businesses and governments on human rights due diligence (HRDD) and expertise guidance on rights-base research, reporting on advancing human rights based approach to climate change and bringing clarity to the effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Dr Umezulike has held key positions as Head of Legal and Governance in one of Europe’s most prominent private aviation firms, Diamond Hangar Aviation. She serves as the convener and Director of Program of the International Conference on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate Change – a collaborative collation of multidisciplinary academics, researchers, policy makers and activists to present key findings, explore and activate result-based solutions which centre human rights approach at the core of global climate change solutions. As the co-chair of Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike Foundation, she oversees a preserved law library and legal research centre in Nigeria – developing and delivering 30 human rights-centred programs and engaging with international organisations and states to tackle environmental and climate change issues and empowering indigent people in rural regions with tools to tackle the demands of learning and access to quality education.

Dr Umezulike is a prolific activist campaigning for climate sustainability and climate justice and against fast fashion production, which fuels environmental degradation, human rights abuse of garment workers, exploitation and gender-based violence. Her expert advocacy opinions and public pronouncement published in leading newspapers such as the Sun, Telegraph, Guardian, Vanguard, and Thisday and many more. She organises the Climate Crises and Human Rights Match, leading peaceful protest/walk across Central London to bring awareness on human rights violations and the environmental impact and climate crisis in clothes supply chains. She most recently spoke at the Women’s Parliament, Cambridge Council Chamber on “Violence Against Women and Economic Independence in Respect to African and Ethnic Minorities”. The Women Parliament stands together with the United Nations under the theme UNiTE activism to end violence against women.

Previously held academic post (Associate Lecturer) at Birkbeck, University of London teaching Constitutional and Administrative Law, Tort Law, Criminal law and Law of the Trial. Dr Umezulike joined the University of Buckingham in 2023 and teaches master’s degree (LLM) International Comparative Human Rights Law and Tort Law. She has led the development of the master’s degree (LLM) Fashion, Environment and the Law as well as developing an International Research Centre focused on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate. She serves as an academic integrity officer and is an Editor of the Lord Denning Law Journal, overseeing the publication of the issues on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate Change.

Her research interests draw on interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches to environmental justice, climate change as a human rights issue, specifically on the impact of climate change on the socio-economic welfare and living conditions of vulnerable people living in remote and rural regions. She is a member of the UK Society of Legal Scholars. UK Human Rights Lawyers Association, International Bar Association and Justice Human Rights Network.


Academic and Administrative Roles

PhD Supervision – Nikki Ngozichukwuka Modie-Nwaefulu, “The Influence of Gender Culture in Gender Based Violence Policy Development and Implementation: A Look at the Social Policy Development of the Nigerian Violence Against (Prohibition) Act 2015 (2022-2024).

Internal Examiner LLM by Research Thesis – Shahmoradi Zavareh S, “Should Euthanasia and Assisted Dying be Legalized in the United Kingdom (2023).

Lead in the development of the International Fashion Law Module and the International Research Center.

Founder and Program Director, International Conference on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate Change – The University of Buckingham.

Editor, The Lord Denning Law Journal, Special Issue on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate Change.

Academic Integrity Officer – SAIA


Conference Presentations and Awards

  • 125 Year Anniversary Distinguished Alumni Award – University of East London 2023
  • Emerging Academic Scholar Award – Marymont Manhanttan University New York Twelfth International Food Conference 2022.
  • People’s Choice Winner, 3MT Ph.D. Thesis Competition.
  • Gilchrist Educational Trust Prize Special Notation in Recognition of Outstanding Ph.D. Research.
  • ‘The Legal and Ethical Implication of Committing Mentally ill Patients to Involuntary Treatment. A Case Study of Eating Disorders’ – The 27th Annual Renfrew Center Foundation Conference, Philadelphia USA (2017).
  • ‘Self-Starvation: Media Influence in the Development of the Thin Body,’ at the Fashion, Body and Culture International Conference, University of Oxford (February 2020)
  • ‘Towards a Human Rights Perspective in the Involuntary Treatment of the Anorexic Body,’ at the Kent Critical Law Society Annual Conference, University of Kent (March 2017).
  • ‘The Meaning-Centered Anorexic Body: A Feminist Response to Control and Misogyny,’ at the Critical Legal Conference, University of Warwick.
  • ‘Thin Body Internalization: Media Internalization: Media Influence in the Development of the Anorexic Body,’ at Talking Bodies: An International, Interdisciplinary Conference on Identity, Sexuality and Representation, University of Chester.
  • Panellist on ‘Human Rights, Ethics and Social Care’ at the KCLS annual conference, University of Kent (March 2019).
  • Panellist in ‘Eating, Meat, Catastrophe’ at the CLC conference, University of Warwick. (September 2018)
  • Paper – “Violence Against Women: Eco-economic Independence in Respect to African and Ethnic Minorities” at the Women’s Parliament, Cambridge Council Chamber, Cambridge United Kingdom (28th November 2022)
  • Paper – “Self-Starvation In Non Western Cultures: Rethinking The Role Of Food In The Quest For Autonomy And Bodily Integrity,” at the Twelfth International Conference on Food Studies Marymount University. New York, USA.
  • Paper – “Is Self-Starvation a Human Right: Understanding Meaning-Centred Anorexia in Non-Western Cultures” at the 5th International Academic Conference on Research in Social Sciences- Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Paper and Pronouncement – “The Bravado of Modern Liberated Women” at the Bold and Brilliant Panel – London United Kingdom (11th of December 2022).
  • Paper – “Contextualising the Direct Link Between Fast Fashion and Climate Change: A Human Rights Based Approach”, at The 10th International Conference on Research in Behavioural and Social Sciences (November 2022)
  • Participant – 32nd Session, United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (WGEPAD) – International Decade For People of African Descent, May 2-5, 2023.
  • Opening Lecture – “Human Rights and Climate Sustainability: A Case Study of the Fast Fashion Industry” at the University of Buckingham Law Taster (November, 4th 2023).
  • Opening Address – “Towards a Legal Recognition of the Impact of Climate Change on the Enjoyment of Socio-Economic Rights and Sustainable Environment Citizens”, at the International Conference on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate Change”, October 4, 2023.
  • Paper: “Gender Perspectives Towards the Right to Dignity and Self Determination of : The Emancipation of the Feminist Body and Beyond” at the Women’s Parliament, Cambridge Council Chamber, Cambridge United Kingdom (February 2023).
  • Paper – “Eco-legal Criticism: Adequacy of the Current Legal Framework to Tackle the Impact of Climate Change”, at the International Conference on Eco-criticism and Environmental Studies – Birkbeck, University of London, October14, 2023.
  • Paper – “Okirika Waste Colonialism: Intertextuality of Climate Change, Informal Waste Economy and Gender Based Inequalities in Africa at the 7th International Conference on Modern Approaches in Humanities and Social Sciences – Copenhagen Denmark, 3rd of November 2023.
  • Participation and Written Submission – “The Business of Fashion: Does Tertiary Institutions Enable Human Rights Violations in Fashion Through Exclusionary Education” at the 12th Session, United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights – Geneva Switzerland, 27th November 2023.

Publications

Articles and Book Chapters

Cynthia Umezulike, “Advancing the Socio-economic and Cultural Rights of Children in Nigeria”, Igbinedion Law Review 21 (7) 2010.

Cynthia Umezulike, “Human Rights Approach on the Involuntary Treatment of the Anorexic Body”, Birkbeck Law Review 6 (1), 2018.

Cynthia Umezulike, “Thin Body: The Influence of the Media in the Development of Anorexic Body”, Journal of Culture, Society and Development, 22 431 (2017).

Cynthia Umezulike, Human Rights Based Approach: Critical Perspective in the Understanding of the Meaning-Centered Anorexic Body. Young Human Rights Lawyer Journal, (2017). 3YHRL

2022 Confirmed Papers for Presentation

Paper – “Self-Starvation In Non Western Cultures: Rethinking The Role Of Food In The Quest For Autonomy And Bodily Integrity,” at the Twelfth International Conference on Food Studies Marymount University. New York, USA.

Paper – “Is Self-Starvation a Human Right: Understanding Meaning-Centred Anorexia in Non-Western Cultures” at the 5th International Academic Conference on Research in Social Sciences- Copenhagen, Denmark.

Paper – “Contextualising the Direct Link Between Fast Fashion and Climate Change”, at the International Conference on Eco-criticism and Environmental Studies – London, United Kingdom.

Books and Edited Volumes

Cynthia Umezulike Ph.D, Book Editor: ‘Hon Justice Innocent Umezulike: The New Wigs and the Challenges of Legal Practice in Nigeria – Revised and Enlarged’, Cecta Publishing House, 2022.

Cynthia Umezulike Ph.D, Assistant Book Editor: ‘Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike: A Chronicle of Leading Judgements.’ UCLJ (Vol. 1), 2019.

Other Published Work

Cynthia Umezulike, ‘Black Lives Matter: Breaking the Cycle of Silence on Social Media and Beyond’. The Cable Newspaper. 2020.

Cynthia Umezulike, ‘The Irony of the Wheels of Justice’. – The Guardian Newspaper, Vanguard Newspaper and This Day Newspaper. 2022

Cynthia Umezulike, Ph.D, ’10 Hacks for Self-Empowerment: Take Back Control of Your Life With These Simple Guides, Sustain X 2022.

Cynthia Umezulike, Ph.D, ‘Redrawing the Values of Liberal Feminism in the Modern Age’.

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