Professor Lorna McGregor
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Email
lmcgreg@essex.ac.uk -
Telephone
+44 (0) 1206 873871
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Location
5S.6.18, Colchester Campus
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Academic support hours
My academic support hours are on Thursdays 3-5pm by prior appointment (in person or zoom)
Profile
Biography
Lorna McGregor is a Professor of International Human Rights Law in Essex Law School and Human Rights Centre, Deputy Dean (External Relations) and Director of the multi-disciplinary Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project (HRBDT) originally funded with £4.7m from the UK Economic and Social Research Council. Her current research focuses on new and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and human rights; all forms of detention under international law; access to justice and remedies under international law; and the position and effects of international human rights law within public international law and in dealing with global challenges. Her work has appeared in journals such as the American Journal of International Law, the European Journal of International Law, the International and Comparative Law Quarterly, the Journal of International Criminal Justice and the International Journal of Transitional Justice. Her research has been cited by the International Court of Justice, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN Secretary-General and was awarded the Antonio Cassese Prize for International Criminal Law Studies. Her latest book, Detention and its Alternatives under International Law, was published by Oxford University Press in 2023. Lorna has extensive experience in research leadership, including leading multi and interdisciplinary teams, both as the Director of Essex Human Rights Centre (2013-2019) and as the Director of HRBDT (2015 - present). Her research has been funded by the British Academy (Co-Investigator of a Newton Senior Fellowship on The Effects of International Human Rights Law on Public International Law and its Sub-Branches), the ESRC (PI of HRBDT and Co-Investigator on Utilising Big Data in the Practice of Torture Survivors' Rehabilitation), the Nuffield Foundation (PI on the role of National Human Rights Institutions in Complaints-Handling), the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Lorna regularly works with and advises human rights NGOs, national human rights commissions and international organisations. She has held positions as a Commissioner of the British Equality and Human Rights Commission and as a trustee of the AIRE Centre. She was one of the founding co-chairs of the European Society of International Law's Interest Group on Human Rights, was previously a contributing editor of EJIL Talk! and between 2012 - 2015, was a co-chair of an expert group of academics and human rights practitioners on the review of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners the product of which was the 'Essex papers' which were heavily influential in the updated rules, now referred to as the 'Mandela Rules'. Prior to becoming an academic, Lorna held positions at REDRESS, the International Bar Association, and the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Sri Lanka. She holds an LL.B (First Class Honours) from Edinburgh Law School and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, where she was a Kennedy Memorial Trust Scholar and Henigson Fellow. She is admitted as an attorney in New York State.
Qualifications
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LLB(Hons) University of Edinburgh,
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LLM Harvard Law School,
Appointments
University of Essex
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Director of the Human Rights Centre, University of Essex (1/1/2013 - 30/12/2019)
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Director and PI of the ESRC Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project, University of Essex (1/10/2015 - present)
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Deputy Dean (External Relations), Essex Law School (4/2023 - present)
Research and professional activities
Conferences and presentations
The Role of Tech Companies in Remedies
Invited presentation, OHCHR MULTI-STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ON ACCESS TO REMEDY IN THE TECH SECTOR, 24/9/2021
Can Digital Tech and AI Advance Human Rights?
Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, Artificial Intelligence: The New Frontier of Business and Human Rights Asser Institute, Organised by the Business and Human Rights Working Group of the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research and the Asser Institute., 7/9/2021
Why Human Rights Matter in the Design, Development and Deployment of New and Emerging Tech
Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy Systems, 13/7/2021
Digital Technologies and Human Rights in the Criminal Justice System
Invited presentation, OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Digital Technologies and Human Rights -Opportunities and Challenges, 13/7/2021
The Evolution of Social Justice in the Age of Digital Networks and Machine Learning
Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, Not Equal Summer School, 7/6/2021
Human Rights Impact Assessments in the Age of Digitisation and AI
Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, 13th Asia Human Rights Forum, 27/5/2021
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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International Human Rights Law: Law and Practice (LW901)
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Human Rights and Artificial Intelligence (LW937)
Current supervision
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Human Rights and Research Methods
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 17/10/2023
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 6/1/2021
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 12/6/2018
Degree subject: Law
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 14/5/2018
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 23/1/2018
Degree type: Occasional Postgraduate Study
Awarded date: 28/5/2017
Degree type: Occasional Postgraduate Study
Awarded date: 22/5/2017
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 17/6/2015
Publications
Journal articles (19)
McGregor, L., (2022). Regulating Digital and AI Technologies: Lessons from the Digitisation of Contact-Tracing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Yearbook of International Disaster Law. 3 (1), 35-70
Murray, D., Fussey, P., McGregor, L. and Sunkin, M., (2021). Effective Oversight of Large-Scale Surveillance Activities: A Juman Rights Perspective. Journal of National Security Law and Policy. 11 (3)
McGregor, L., Murray, R. and Shipman, S., (2019). Should National Human Rights Institutions Institutionalize Dispute Resolution?. Human Rights Quarterly. 41 (2), 309-339
McGregor, L., Murray, D. and Ng, V., (2019). International human rights law as a framework for algorithmic accountability. International and Comparative Law Quarterly. 68 (2), 309-343
McGregor, L., (2019). Accountability for Governance Choices in Artificial Intelligence: Afterword to Eyal Benvenisti’s Foreword. European Journal of International Law. 29 (4), 1079-1085
McGregor, L., (2019). Looking to the Future: The Scope, Value and Operationalization of International Human Rights Law. Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law. 53 (2), 1281-1314
McGregor, L., (2019). Are New Technologies an Aid to Reputation as a Disciplinarian?. AJIL Unbound. 113, 238-241
McGregor, L., (2016). An Integrated System of National and International Remedies for Crimes under International Law. Journal of International Criminal Justice. 14 (1), 239-251
McGregor, L., (2015). Alternative Dispute Resolution and Human Rights: Developing a Rights-Based Approach through the ECHR. European Journal of International law. 26 (3), 607-634
McGregor, L., (2014). Applying the Definition of Torture to the Acts of Non-State Actors: The Case of Trafficking in Human Beings. Human Rights Quarterly. 36 (1), 210-241
McGregor, L., (2013). Transitional Justice and the Prevention of Torture. International Journal of Transitional Justice. 7 (1), 29-51
McGregor, L., (2013). State Immunity and Human Rights: Is There a Future after Germany v. Italy?. Journal of International Criminal Justice. 11 (1), 125-145
McGregor, L., (2012). The role of supranational human rights litigation in strengthening remedies for torture nationally. The International Journal of Human Rights. 16 (5), 737-754
McGregor, L., (2010). Are Declaratory Orders Appropriate for Continuing Human Rights Violations? The Case of Khadr v Canada. Human Rights Law Review. 10 (3), 487-503
McGregor, L., (2007). Torture and State Immunity: Deflecting Impunity, Distorting Sovereignty. European Journal of International Law. 18 (5), 903-919
McGregor, L., (2006). Beyond the Time and Space of Peace Talks: Re-Appropriating the Peace Process in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Peace Studies. 11 (1), 39-57
McGregor, L., (2006). Reconciliation: I Know It When I See It. Contemporary Justice Review. 9 (2), 155-174
McGregor, L., (2006). State Immunity and Jus Cogens. International and Comparative Law Quarterly. 55 (2), 437-446
McGregor, L., (2001). Individual Accountability in South Africa: Cultural Optimum or Political Fa�ade?. American Journal of International Law. 95 (1), 32-45
Books (2)
McGregor, L., (2023). Detention and Its Alternatives Under International Law. Oxford University Press. 0191898589. 9780191898587
McEvoy, K. and McGregor, L., (2008). Transitional Justice from Below: Grassroots Activism and the Struggle for Change. Hart Publishing. 9781841138213
Book chapters (12)
McGregor, L., (2024). Researching the Human Rights Impact of New and Emerging Digital Technologies. In: Research Methods in Human Rights (Second Edition). Editors: Andreassen, BA., Methven O'Brien, C. and Sano, H-O., . Edward Elgar. 339- 362. 978 1 80392 260 7
Abrusci, E., Dubberley, S. and McGregor, L., (2020). An ‘Infodemic’ in the Pandemic: Human Rights and Covid-19 Misinformation. 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. 287- 296. 978-1-5272-6632-2
McGregor, L., (2020). Foreign state immunities as a barrier to accessing remedies. In: Research Handbook on Torture. Edward Elgar Publishing. 378- 392. 9781788113953
Çali, B., Elibol, Z. and Mcgregor, L., (2019). The international court of justice as an integrator, developer and globaliser of international human rights law. In: Human Rights Norms in 'Other' International Courts. 62- 86
McGregor, L., (2017). The right to a remedy and reparation for victims of trafficking in human beings. In: Routledge Handbook of Human Trafficking. 261- 272
McGregor, L., (2016). International penal law: aligned with or autonomous from international human rights law?. In: Research Handbook on the International Penal System. Edward Elgar Publishing. 299- 321. 1783472162. 9781783472161
Rodley, NS., Huber, A. and McGregor, L., (2015). Updating the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. In: For the Sake of Present and Future Generations Essays on International Law, Crime and Justice in Honour of Roger S. Clark. Editors: Linton, S., Simpson, G. and Schabas, WA., . Brill. 133- 152. 9789004270725
McGregor, L., (2013). The Relationship of the UN Treaty Bodies and Regional Systems. In: Routledge Handbook of International Human Rights Law. Editors: Rodley, N. and Sheeran, SP., . Routledge. 505- 520. 9780415620734
McGregor, L., (2010). Legal routes to restoring individual rights at Guantanamo Bay: the effectiveness of habeas corpus applications and efforts to obtain diplomatic protection. In: Human Security and Non-Citizens. Editors: Edwards, A. and Ferstman, C., . Cambridge University Press. 560- 588. 9780521513296
McGregor, L. and Moxham, L., (2010). Spinning a 'global spider's web' : claims of national security and ongoing impunity for 'extraordinary rendition'. In: Extraordinary renditions and the protection of human rights. Editors: Nowak, M. and Schmidt, R., . Neuer Wissenschaftlicher Verlag. 9783708306704
McGregor, L., (2008). International Law as a ?Tiered Process?: Transitional Justice at the Local, National and International Level. In: Transitional Justice from Below: Grassroots Activism and the Struggle for Change. Editors: McEvoy, K. and McGregor, L., . Hart Publishing. 47- 74. 9781841138213
McEvoy, K. and McGregor, L., (2008). Transitional Justice From Below: An Agenda for Research, Policy and Praxis. In: Transitional Justice from Below: Grassroots Activism and the Struggle for Change. Editors: McEvoy, K. and McGregor, L., . Hart Publishing. 1- 14. 9781841138213
Reports and Papers (8)
McGregor, L., Fussey, P., Murray, D., Fox, C., Alhelbawy, A., McDonald Maier, K., Shaheed, A. and Gilbert, G., ‘Written Evidence from Professor Lorna McGregor et al 0090): Urgent Need for Full Transparency and Human Rights Impact Assessment of the NHSX Contact Tracing App’
McGregor, L. and Molnar, P., (2023). Digital Border Governance: A human rights based approach
McGregor, L. and Crowther, N., (2022). A Digital Cage is Still a Cage: How can new and emerging digital technologies advance, rather than put at risk, the human rights of older people who draw on social care?
McGregor, L., Ng, V. and Shaheed, A., (2018). The Universal Declaration at 70: Putting Human Rights at the Heart of the Design, Development and Deployment of Artificial Intelligence
McGregor, L., Murray, R. and Shipman, S., (2017). First Contact with Complainants: A human rights based approach to triage and referrals
McGregor, L., Murray, R., Shipman, S. and Tyrrell, H., (2017). National Human Rights Institutions in Europe and Dispute Resolution: A Mapping
McGregor, L. and Huber, A., (2014). Second Report of the Essex Expert Group on the Review of the Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners (Essex Paper II)
McGregor, L. and Huber, A., (2012). Expert Meeting at the University of Essex on the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners Review (Essex Paper I)
Other (1)
Shaheed, A. and McGregor, L., (2020).The COVID-19 pandemic: Five urgent principles for leaving no one behind through technology,Universal Rights Group
Grants and funding
2024
EyeWarn: A Large-Scale UK Study of Patterns of Eye Activity in Cognitive Strain
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2021
Strengthening Human Rights Protection in the Use of AI Technologies at Borders
Swiss Foreign Affairs Department
2020
Human Rights implications of Scotland's Digital Strategy
Scottish Human Rights Commission
2015
Utilising Big Data in the Practice of Torture Survivors' Rehabilitation
Economic & Social Research Council
Human Rights and Information Technology in the Era of Big Data
Economic & Social Research Council
Utilising Big Data in the Practice of Torture Survivors' Rehabilitation
Economic & Social Research Council
Effects of International Human Rights Law on Public International Law and its sub-branches
The British Academy
Utilising Big Data in the Practice of Torture Survivors' Rehabilitation
Economic & Social Research Council
2014
The Role of National Human Rights Institutions in Providing Access to Justice
Nuffield Foundation
Strengthening Reporting on Torture
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Contact
Academic support hours:
My academic support hours are on Thursdays 3-5pm by prior appointment (in person or zoom)
