We had a great day yesterday celebrating the class of 2025 on the Belfast campus! Congratulations to all of our law graduates across the two campuses - it has been a great couple of weeks of celebration! #ProudofUU @ulsteruni.bsky.social @rjjoconnell.bsky.social @clairelougarre.bsky.social

Thanks to the @modernslaverypec.bsky.social for hosting @andrewchisholm.bsky.social (IOM UK) and I, for a seminar on our project, 'identifying modern slavery and human trafficking in the context of child criminal exploitation in NI'. You can watch the seminar at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJLN...

(1/2) With a heavy heart, I have written to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as a whip. Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits.

Last week, @andrewchisholm.bsky.social and I launched our research on identifying modern slavery/human trafficking in the context of CCE in Northern Ireland. Find out more and sign up for next week's lunchtime seminar (26th June) below. ⬇️

Today, some of our year 1 public law students visited Stormont to hear about the legislative process, meet with an MLA, and hear from Bill Office representatives. There was even a bit of a debate and a vote in the Assembly chamber! Thanks to the NI Assembly Education Office for arranging the visit!

RLI ANNUAL CONFERENCE - DRAFT PROGRAMME NOW AVAILABLE 👇 👇 👇 "Refugee Law and Forced Migration Studies: Debates, Interactions and Futures’’, the RLI's 15th Anniversary Conference, 2 - 4 June 2025, Senate House, London rli.sas.ac.uk/rli-annual-c... #law #refugees #refugeeprotection #forcedmigration

This fourth blog in our series examines the role of the international anti-trafficking framework in addressing internal displacement resulting from organised criminal activity. researchinginternaldisplacement.org/short_pieces... @rli-sas.bsky.social @gillkane.bsky.social @idmc-geneva.bsky.social

The latest post from the RLI Courts Working Group series comes from Dr. Ricardo Strauch Aveline - a very interesting perspective from the Inter-American system. Interested in participating in the working group? Join the RLI and get in touch! rli.sas.ac.uk/about-us/wor...

The next piece in the new RID series is now available!

From last week: High Court finds three Home Office decisions refusing to reinstate trafficking support were unlawful | Bryony Goodesmith

Great to be in London yesterday for the @modernslaverypec.bsky.social conference reflecting on 10 years of the Modern Slavery Act. Grateful for the opportunity to share reflections on the NI context. Much action promised and much to do. Reminded again of the importance of partnership. #PECconference

If you're in #Canada and interested in studying at Ulster University School of Law, then come along to the SI UK fair in #Toronto or #Vancouver and meet Prof @rjjoconnell.bsky.social! See you there? More details at: www.studyin-uk.ca/events/uk-un...

1st paper in our new series on organsed crime, drawing on research by experts at the RLI working with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs for her 2025 Call for Inputs. researchinginternaldisplacement.org/short_pieces... @rli-sas.bsky.social @idmc-geneva.bsky.social @unhcr.org

News report on an 18 year old given three year sentence for possession with intent to supply Class A mentions that Judge acknowledged he was recognised by the NRM as a criminally exploited young person. Judge said, “on this occasion I think you were truly out to make what you could for yourself.”

One of my favourite things about this semester has been launching our international migration law module - we've had fantastic discussions so far, and yesterday was no exception! We welcomed an excellent panel who shared from their experiences. The challenges are many, but the future is bright!

Ulster University School of Law has joined the party over on Bluesky- head on over and give us a follow!

Proud to be on the board of Chab Dai: it's been a tough week as we face the impacts of the #USAID stop work order. Our protection work and the support being provided to 31 survivors of #humantrafficking is at risk. Read our statement: tinyurl.com/jbschabdai Donate: www.chabdai.org/donate Thanks! ♥️

Since October, Andrew Chisholm (IOM UK ) & I have been working on a project investigating barriers to the identification and recognition of modern slavery and human trafficking of children in NI. Co-funded by the NI DOJ & @modernslaverypec.bsky.social (MSPEC). More info at: tinyurl.com/mt2tcabh

Yesterday we gathered the human trafficking research network steering group in Belfast! We spent the day reflecting on our strategy, aims, and goals going forward. Looking forward to some fantastic initiatives coming up for the HTRN! I'm so grateful for this crew. Here's to the next chapter!

The European Commission has said that the decision to return Syrian refugees and asylum seekers is the preserve of individual member states, but that under EU law, return procedures must be based on individual assessments of asylum applications

Lovely sunny day at Stormont! Great to join the NI Human Rights Commission Annual Statement launch. Great to hear from the wonderful Baroness Chakrabati who has done - and continues to do - so much for #humanrights #AS2024

I finally decided it might be time to join the conversation here too: posting on #migration, #humantrafficking #internationallaw, and #humanrights.