Linking Legal & Policy Research to Law-Making on the SDGs

This workshop aims to empower young researchers interested in global careers hoping to influence law-making domestically and internationally

About this event

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Speaking Truth to Power: Linking Legal & Policy Research to Law-Making on the SDGs Wednesday, July 28 2021 | 16:00-17:30 BST | 11:00-12:30 EST

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the need for impactful legal and policy research to influence stakeholders in the law-making process in confronting challenges that confront humanity. This is especially necessary if the lofty ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals are to be met.

To empower young researchers interested in global careers hoping to influence law-making, this interactive online mentorship session brings together expert facilitators with outstanding experience and networks across government and inter-governmental organizations, the private sector, academia and advocacy career paths, who will encourage participants to think critically about how to communicate legal and policy research to lawmakers and other stakeholders. They will also provide insights from their own experience to inform learners about what they can do now to lay the foundations for a successful, fulfilling career in their chosen path and field.

Featuring case studies of successful interventions in the law-making process around the world, this session may be particularly helpful for recent graduates, postgraduate, or undergraduate students.

Proposed outline for the workshop:

04:00 – 04:15 PM: Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Dr Matthew Agarwala, Project Leader: The Wealth Economy, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge

04:15 – 04:30 PM: Presentation – Speaking Truth to Power: Linking Legal & Policy Research to Law-Making on the SDGs

• Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professor, University of Cambridge; Senior Director, Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL); and Full Professor of International Law, University of Waterloo, Canada.

• Mr Freedom-Kai Phillips, Coordinator, Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship, University of Cambridge; Operations Director & Legal Research Fellow, Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL); PhD Candidate, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge.

• Dr Antoinette Nestor, Engagement Manager, Centre for Climate Repair and Cambridge Zero, University of Cambridge; Associate Fellow, Centre for International Sustainable Development Law.

• Ms Blessing Ajayi, Associate Fellow, Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL); PhD Candidate - Sustainability Management, School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development (SEED), University of Waterloo.

• Mr Tejas Rao, Coordinator, Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship, University of Cambridge; Associate Fellow, Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL).

04:30 – 05:00 PM:

Expert Session I: Case Studies on Advising in the Law-Making Process (Simultaneous to Expert Session II and III)

• Dr Matthew Agarwala, Project Leader: The Wealth Economy, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge

• Professor Richard Janda, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University; Associate Member, Bieler School of Environment (TBC)

Expert Session II: Case Studies on Advising in the Law-Making Process (Simultaneous to Expert Session I and III)

• Dr Dhvani Mehta, Co-Founder and Lead, Health, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, India

• Dr Henry Lovat, Lecturer in International Law and Politics, School of Law, University of Glasgow

Expert Session III: Case Studies on Advising in the Law-Making Process (Simultaneous to Expert Session I and II)

• Dr Robert Kibugi, Lecturer in Environmental Law, University of Nairobi (TBC)

• Dr David Mead, Professor of UK Human Rights Law, University of East Anglia; and Parliamentary Academic Fellow, Joint Committee on Human Rights 2020-21

05:00 – 05:30 PM: Expert Panel on Good Practices, Questions & Answers, and Concluding Remarks

• Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professor, University of Cambridge; Senior Director, Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL); and Full Professor of International Law, University of Waterloo, Canada.

• Dr Matthew Agarwala, Project Leader: The Wealth Economy, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge

• Professor Richard Janda, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University; Associate Member, Bieler School of Environment (TBC)

• Dr Dhvani Mehta, Co-Founder and Lead, Health, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, India

• Dr Robert Kibugi, Lecturer in Environmental Law, University of Nairobi (TBC)

• Dr David Mead, Professor of UK Human Rights Law, University of East Anglia; and Parliamentary Academic Fellow, Joint Committee on Human Rights 2020-21

• Dr Henry Lovat, Lecturer in International Law and Politics, School of Law, University of Glasgow