Congratulations to Amy Rutherford on her NI Department for the Economy Award
Welcome to the School Amy!
Amy won a doctoral scholarship from the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy, and in October 2024, she started a doctorate on International Human Rights Law.
Amy, a graduate of Queen's University Belfast with an LLM in International Business Law and a BA in French and Spanish Studies, is undertaking her PhD project, Human Rights for Irregular Migrants in Transit: The Panama Case Study. Supervised by Professor Colin Harvey and Dr Alice Panepinto, her research examines how International Human Rights Law (IHRL) is applied in Panama, a key Latin American transit point, where migrants face significant dangers.
With over 500,000 people crossing the Darien Gap in 2023 alone, the project tackles a rising global challenge. Through her analysis of Panama's experience with high migration flows, Amy aims to propose a practical framework to strengthen migration policies globally.
Reflecting on her motivation, Amy shared: “During my time working on the Global Route Based Migration Programme at the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies, I raised awareness of the challenges faced by migrants in transit. This experience inspired my PhD project as I noticed how lived realities can differ from the promises made under IHRL. By incorporating stakeholder interviews, my research seeks to humanise the migration rights conversation.”
Professor Colin Harvey said: “This is a vital new research project on human rights and migration. Amy is addressing a major contemporary global challenge. I am very much looking forward to providing guidance, support and assistance. I have no doubt that the outcomes will have an impact on ongoing legal and policy conversations."
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We welcome PhD applications from prospective students.
Further details on how to apply can be found at https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofLaw/study/postgraduate-research/