People

Professor Sabine Michalowski

Professor
Essex Law School
Professor Sabine Michalowski
  • Email

  • Telephone

    +44 (0) 1206 872862

  • Location

    5S.6.15, Colchester Campus

  • Academic support hours

    Autumn Term and Spring Term: On Study Leave

Profile

Biography

Sabine Michalowski joined the School in January 2000, having previously been a lecturer in law at the University of Sheffield from 1994 to 1999. She is co-director of the Essex Transitional Justice Network, chairs the ETJN's research area economic dimensions of transitional justice, and she is also a member of the Human Rights Centre. Sabine graduated from Hamburg, qualified as a lawyer in Berlin, and holds a Diploma in Comparative Law awarded by the University of Paris II and a PhD from Sheffield. In recent years, the primary focus of Sabine's research has been on the Colombian peace and transitional justice process, particularly regarding the question of how to hold economic actors, such as business directors, landowners etc., to account for their role in conflict related crimes. She has been collaborating with Colombian think tank Dejusticia on these issues, provided amicus briefs to the Colombian Constitutional Court and the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace and co-authored academic and policy papers. As a member of the Essex Autonomy Project, Sabine is a researcher on the Wellcome Trust funded Mental Health and Justice project and was also involved in an AHRC funded project on the compatibility of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The project involved a series of public policy roundtables, hosted by the Ministry of Justice, and a one-day public conference at the Institute for Government in July 2014. In September 2014 it resulted in the submission of a position paper to the Ministry of Justice. Another of Sabine's ongoing research interests is end-of-life decision-making, in particular the controversial issue of assisted dying. She is currently exploring the human rights implications of the partial legalisation of assisted dying. Sabine would invite PhD applications in the areas of transitional justice, particularly regarding its economic and social dimension; corporate complicity; and medical law.

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Medical Law

In particular end-of-life issues, patient autonomy, capacity

Key words: End-of-life issues
Open to supervise

Business and human rights

In particular corporate complicity in human rights violations

Key words: Human rights violations
Open to supervise

Transitional Justice, with a particular focus on the Colombian peace process, socio-economic dimensions of TJ and the inclusion of economic actors in TJ processes

In particular economic and social dimensions of transitional justice, and the linkages between transitional justice and corporate accountability

Key words: Corporate accountability
Open to supervise

Health Care Law and Human Rights

Open to supervise

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Medical Law (LW232)

  • Final Year Research Project (LW304)

  • Transitional Justice (LW927)

Previous supervision

Luis Felipe Yanes De Dominicis
Luis Felipe Yanes De Dominicis
Thesis title: “Integrating Social Rights in International Investment Law: Framing the Legitimate Expectations of Public Service Providers.”
Degree subject: Human Rights and Research Methods
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 27/6/2024
Matthew Leslie James Bodycombe
Matthew Leslie James Bodycombe
Thesis title: “Would the European Union Benefit From a Centralised Asylum Court System? A Critical Study Considering the Current Legal Situation and with an Eye to the Future.”
Degree subject: Law
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 4/3/2024
Sarka Duskova
Sarka Duskova
Thesis title: Who Should We Accommodate? Opening the Grounds for Reasonable Accommodation Under the European Convention on Human Rights
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 21/6/2023
Paulina Jimenez Fregoso
Paulina Jimenez Fregoso
Thesis title: Intersectionality as a Tool to Adjudicate Human Rights Law. a Case Study on the Inter-American System of Human Rights
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 16/3/2022
Mandira Sharma
Mandira Sharma
Thesis title: The Complexities of Delivering Justice and Truth Simultaneously in Transitional Justice Process with a Special Focus on Nepal
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 13/8/2021
Ebba Elisabeth Lekvall
Ebba Elisabeth Lekvall
Thesis title: Addressing Challenges for the Application of Existing Legal Standards of Reparation to Domestic Reparation Programmes in Transitional Justice Contexts
Degree subject: Law
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 2/7/2021
Panagiota Taygeti Michalakea
Panagiota Taygeti Michalakea
Degree subject: Occasional Study: Law (Research)
Degree type: Occasional Postgraduate Study
Awarded date: 22/7/2017
Samantha Marie Davey
Samantha Marie Davey
Thesis title: The Proportionality of Non-Consensual Adoption in England and Wales Under S52(1)(B) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002
Degree subject: Law
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 29/6/2016

Publications

Journal articles (27)

Michalowski, S. and Cardona Chaves, JP., Responsabilidad corporativa y justicia transicional. Anuario de Derechos Humanos. 0 (11)

Michalowski, S., (2024). Approaches to criminal responsibility of economic actors in transitional justice processes: lessons from Colombia. Columbia human rights law review. 55 (2), 444-508

Fitton, E., Kuylen, M., Wyllie, A., Michalowski, S., Bhatt, V. and Martin, W., (2023). Managing DNACPR Recommendations in Residential Care: Towards Improved Training for Social Care and Capacity Professionals. The British Journal of Social Work. 53 (5), 2979-2999

Kuylen, M., Wyllie, A., Bhatt, V., Fitton, E., Michalowski, S. and Martin, W., (2022). COVID-19 and the Mental Capacity Act in care homes: Perspectives from capacity professionals. Health and Social Care in the Community. 30 (5), e3018-e3028

Michalowski, S. and Martin, W., (2022). DNACPR Decisions: Aligning Law, Guidance, and Practice. Medical Law Review. 30 (3), 434-456

Bhatt, V., Michalowski, S., Wyllie, A., Kuylen, M. and Martin, W., (2021). Human Rights and COVID Triage: A Comment on the Bath Protocol. Journal of Medical Ethics. 47 (7), 464-466

Michalowski, S., (2015). Doing Business with a Bad Actor: How to Draw the Line Between Legitimate Commercial Activities and Those that Trigger Corporate Complicity Liability. Texas International Law Journal. 50 (3), 403-464

Michalowski, S., (2014). The Mens Rea Standard for Corporate Aiding and Abetting Liability - conclusions from international criminal law. UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs. 18 (2)

Michalowski, S., (2013). RELYING ON COMMON LAW DEFENCES TO LEGALISE ASSISTED DYING: PROBLEMS AND POSSIBILITIES. Medical Law Review. 21 (3), 337-370

Michalowski, S., (2012). No Complicity Liability for Funding Gross Human Rights Violations?. Berkeley Journal of International Law. 30 (2), 451-524

Bohoslavsky, JP. and Michalowski, S., (2009). Ius Cogens, Transitional Justice and Other Trends of the Debate on Odious Debts: A Response to the World Bank Discussion Paper on Odious Debts. Columbia Journal of Transnational Law. 48 (1), 61-120

Michalowski, S., (2009). Law, Legitimacy and the Rationing of Health Care. A Contextual and Comparative Perspective. European Journal of Health Law. 16 (4), 396-408

Michalowski, S., (2009). Legalising Active Voluntary Euthanasia Through The Courts: Some Lessons From Colombia. Medical Law Review. 17 (2), 183-218

Michalowski, S., (2009). Trazando paralelos entre la responsabilidad de bancos por complicidad y las deudas odiosas.. Revista Jur�dica. 10 (1), 279-288

Jox, RJ., Michalowski, S., Lorenz, J. and Schildmann, J., (2008). Substitute decision making in medicine: comparative analysis of the ethico-legal discourse in England and Germany. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy. 11 (2), 153-163

Michalowski, S., (2008). Sovereign Debt and Social Rights-Legal Reflections on a Difficult Relationship. Human Rights Law Review. 8 (1), 35-68

Michalowski, S., (2007). Trial and Error at the End of Life--No Harm Done?. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies. 27 (2), 257-280

Michalowski, S., (2005). Advance Refusals of Life‐Sustaining Medical Treatment: The Relativity of an Absolute Right. The Modern Law Review. 68 (6), 958-982

Kouwenberg, S. and Patrick, PL., (2003). Introduction. Studies in Second Language Acquisition. 25 (02), 175-184

Michalowski, S., (2002). Sanctity of life — are some lives more sacred than others?. Legal Studies. 22 (3), 377-397

Michalowski, S., (2001). Medical confidentiality for violent patients? A comparison of the German and the English approach. Medicine and Law. 20 (4), 569-577

Michalowski, S., (2001). Reversal of fortune--Re A (Conjoined Twins) and beyond: who should make treatment decisions on behalf of young children?. Health law journal. 9, 149-169

Dorondo, DR., Michalowski, S. and Woods, L., (2001). German Constitutional Law: The Protection of Civil Liberties. German Studies Review. 24 (3), 637-637

Michalowski, S., (1999). Court‐Authorised Caesarean Sections — The End of a Trend?. The Modern Law Review. 62 (1), 115-127

Michalowski, (1998). Medical Confidentiality and Medical Privilege — a Comparison of French and German Law. European Journal of Health Law. 5 (2), 89-116

Michalowski, S., (1997). Schutz der Vertraulichkeit strafrechtlich relevanter Patienteninformationen. Zeitschrift für die gesamte Strafrechtswissenschaft. 109 (3)

Michalowski, S., (1997). Protection of Medical Confidentiality without a Medical Privilege? — A Discussion of the English and the German Approach. Medical Law International. 2 (4), 277-289

Books (7)

Michalowski, S., Cruz Rodriguez, M., Orjuela Ruiz, A. and Gomez Betancur, L., (2020). Terceros Civiles ante la Jurisdiccion Especial Para la Paz. Dejusticia. 9789585597228

Michalowski, S., Sanchez Leon, C., Marin Lopez, D., Jimenez Ospina, A., Martinez Carrillo, H., Dominguez Mazhari, V. and Arroyave Velasquez, LM., (2018). Entre coaccion y colaboracion - verdad judicial, actores economicos y conflicto armado en Colombia. Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad, Dejusticia. 9789585441453

Michalowski, S., (2016). Unconstitutional Regimes and the Validity of Sovereign Debt. Routledge

Michalowski, S., (2013). Corporate Accountability in the Context of Transitional Justice. Routledge. 9780415524902

Michalowski, S., (2007). Unconstitutional regimes and the validity of sovereign debt: A legal perspective. 9780754647935

Michalowski, S., (2003). Medical Confidentiality and Crime. Routledge. 9780754622949

Michalowski, S. and Woods, L., (1999). German Constitutional Law The Protection of Civil Liberties. Dartmouth Publishing Company. 1855219204. 9781855219205

Book chapters (10)

Michalowski, S., (2020). The Use of Age as a Triage Criterion. In: Covid-19, Law and Human Rights : Essex Dialogues. A Project of the School of Law and Human Rights Centre. Editors: Ferstman, C. and Fagan, A., . University of Essex. 93- 100. 978-1-5272-6632-2

Bueno De Mesquita, J. and Michalowski, S., (2020). The Right to Health: A Discussion. In: Covid-19, Law and Human Rights : Essex Dialogues. A Project of the School of Law and Human Rights Centre. Editors: Ferstman, C. and Fagan, A., . University of Essex. 83- 84. 978-1-5272-6632-2

(2014). Corporate Accountability in the Context of Transitional Justice. In: Corporate Accountability in the Context of Transitional Justice. Editors: Michalowski, S., . Routledge. 52- 72

Michalowski, S., (2014). Article 3 - Right to the Integrity of the Person. In: Commentary on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Editors: Peers, S., Hervey, T., Kenner, J. and Ward, A., . Beck/Hart Publishing. 39- 60. 978-1849463089

Michalowski, S., (2014). Article 3 – Right to the Integrity of the Person. In: The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Nomos. 82- 103

Michalowski, S., (2013). Due diligence and complicity: a relationship in need of clarification. In: Human Rights Obligations of Business. Cambridge University Press. 218- 242. 9781107596177

Michalowski, S., (2013). Introduction. In: Corporate Accountability in the Context of Transitional Justice. Editors: Michalowski, S., . Routledge. 1- 6. 978-0-415-52490-2

Michalowski, S., (2010). El rol del consentimiento informado en la discusi�n de la legalizaci�n de eutanasia activa [The role of informed consent in the discussion on the legalisation of euthanasia]. In: Autonom�a personal y decisiones m�dicas: Cuestiones �ticas y jur�dicas. Editors: Burgos Mendoza, B., . Aranzadi/Thomson -Reuters. 255- 278. 9788447034048

Michalowski, S., (2006). Repayment of Sovereign Debts from a Legal Perspective: The Example of Argentina. In: Human Rights and Capitalism. Edward Elgar Publishing. 303- 329. 9781845422684

Michalowski, S., (2005). Human Rights in Times of Economic Crisis: The Example of Argentina. In: Global Governance and the Quest for Justice: Volume IV: Human Rights. 33- 51

Michalowski, S., Rodríguez, MC. and Carrillo, HM., (2021). Máximos responsables, planes, patrones y políticas de macrocriminalidad en el caso 001 de la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz Análisis del Auto 19 de 2021 de la Sala de Reconocimiento

Michalowski, S., Han-Pile, B., Serôdio Mendes, F., Carniato, B. and Martin, W., (2020). Triage in the COVID-19 Pandemic Bioethical and Human Rights Considerations

Michalowski, S., Cruz Rodriguez, M. and Martinez Carrillo, H., (2020). A quienes sancionar? Maximos responsables y participacion determinante en la Jurisdiccion Especial para la Paz

Michalowski, S., Jiménez Ospina, A., Martinez Carrillo, H. and Marín López, D., (2019). Los terceros complejos: la competencia de la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz

Michalowski, S., Jimenez Ospina, A., Martinez Carrillo, H. and Marin Lopez, D., (2019). Los terceros complejos: lacompetencia de la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz, Resumen Ejecutivo

Michalowski, S., Cruz Rodriguez, M., Orjuela Ruiz, A. and Gomez Betancur, L., (2019). ABC del sometimiento voluntario de la JEP

Michalowski, S. and Martin, W., (2016). THREE JURISDICTIONS REPORT Towards Compliance with CRPD Art. 12 in Capacity/Incapacity Legislation across the UK

Martin, W., Michalowski, S., Jütten, T. and Burch, M., (2014). Achieving CRPD Compliance: Is the Mental Capacity Act of England and Wales compatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability? If not, what next?

Van Ho, T., Yilmaz Vastardis, A., Leader, S., Michalowski, S., Netto, U., Danesi, R., Ong, D. and Wlodarczak, B., (2011). Corporate Liability in a New Setting: Shell and the Changing Legal Landscape for the Multinational Oil Industry in the Niger Delta

Grants and funding

2023

Supporting the inclusion of economic actors in the macro case 08 of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace

University of Essex (QR Impact Fund)

2021

Can transitional justice (TJ) be a vehicle for development in post-conflict situations?

University of Essex (GCRF)

Fulfilling the state obligation to investigate, prosecute and punish international crimes through alternatives to prison sentences - lessons from Colombia

British Academy

Third-party actors and transitional justice: when do they qualify as most responsible for violations of human rights and how to conceptualise their duty to repair the victims?

University of Essex (ESRC IAA)

2020

Supporting the work of the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace

University of Essex (GCRF)

Visiting Fellowship for Jaime Andr�s Contreras Fonseca

University of Essex (GCRF)

Enabling Victims Participation at the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in Colombia and access to Reparation

University of Essex (GCRF)

Assisting the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace with defining the concept of �most responsible� for the most serious international crimes

University of Essex (GCRF)

Ensuring Respect for Human Rights in Locked-Down Care Homes

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Conditionalities in the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace

University of Essex (ESRC IAA)

Helping the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to address questions of harm and conditionalities

University of Essex (ESRC IAA)

2019

Rethinking Child Law and Policy

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Supporting the Colombian transitional justice process

University of Essex (GCRF)

Preparation of large grant related to an Observatory of the Special Jurisdiction for the Peace (�JEP�) in Colombia

University of Essex (GCRF)

Human rights research methods summer school

University of Essex (GCRF)

Road map on how the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for peace should deal with third party actors

University of Essex (GCRF)

Legitimacy, accountability, victims' participation and reparation in transitional justice settings - lessons from and for Colombia

Arts and Humanities Research Council

2017

Integrating corporate actors into transitional justice processes - the example of Colombia

The British Academy

Mental Health and Justice

Wellcome Trust

2016

Mental Health and Justice

Wellcome Trust

Transitional Justice System: Peace Agreement between the Colombian Government and FARC

University of Essex

2015

UK Preparation for the UN CRPD Engagement Process: A Three-Jurisdiction Approach

Arts And Humanities Research Council

2012

Towards a Conceptualisation of the Economic and Social Dimensions of Transitional Justice

The British Academy

2009

Corporate Complicity & Transitional Justice

The British Academy

Contact

smichal@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 872862

Location:

5S.6.15, Colchester Campus

Academic support hours:

Autumn Term and Spring Term: On Study Leave