Professor Elvira Dominguez-Redondo

Contact

Elvira Dominguez-Redondo
About
Teaching and learning
Research
Business, knowledge transfer and international
Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

About

I started as Professor in International Law at Kingston in 2023, prior to which I held full time academic positions at Middlesex University (UK), University of Ulster (UK), Irish Centre for Human Rights, National University of Ireland, Galway (Ireland) and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain).

I spent two period working for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (Switzerland), and have held visiting positions at Columbia University (USA), University Alcalá de Henares (Spain) and Max Plank Institute (Germany). I am currently a member of the teaching staff for the Human Rights summer course at Oxford University (UK).

Over the past 25 years I have taught, researched and delivered conferences and training courses in Europe, the Americas and Asia. My teaching, research and engagement with governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies is informed by transnational, interdisciplinary, multilingual and multifaceted professional experiences characterising my professional trajectory.

Academic responsibilities

Professor of Law

Qualifications

  • PhD, 2004 - Topic: United Nations Special Procedures of the Commission on Human Rights
  • MA, 1998 - Philosophy and Human Rights Law (2 years degree)
  • LLB, 1995 - Licenciatura en Derecho (4 years degree)
  • BA Business, 1996 - Diplomatura en Empresariales (3 years degree)
  • Fellow, UK Higher Education Authority, 2018

Teaching and learning

I have designed and taught over a dozen undergraduate and postgraduate modules at different academic institutions, specialising in international law and human rights. My teaching and learning experience, has included the design of curricular and extracurricular courses, leading teams for their delivery in different continents with different legal and pedagogical traditions.  The list of credit bearing modules I have led include: Public International Law, Human Rights in the UK, International Human Rights, International Commercial Arbitration, International Organisations and Dispute Resolution, Humanitarian Law, Consular and Diplomatic Law, Minority Rights and European Union Law. 

My experience of innovative courses is reflected in my key role in shaping and delivering LLMs specialised in human rights in five different Universities (Ulster, Middlesex, Irish Centre for Human rights, Alcalá de Henares and Carlos III).  In partnership with colleagues from Duhok University (Kurdistan), I co-designed the first LLM in Human Rights in Iraq. 

My experience of designing and delivering innovative courses is also reflected in the design and delivery of intensive short professional courses: UN politics and human rights (Irish Centre for Human Rights, 2013) and Crisis Confidence in Human Rights (Middlesex University, 2014). I have also delivered CPD courses at Matrix Chambers on women's rights with Professor Chinkin in 2014 and 2015. 

Qualifications and expertise

  • Public International Law, especially United Nations Institutions and Title to Territory
  • Minority Rights
  • International Human Rights Mechanisms at United Nations and Regional Level
  • Affirmative Action Measures
  • Relationship between Development, Security and Human Rights
  • Interplay between Politics, Human Rights and International Law

Research

My publications contest key assumptions informing legal literature, as reflected in two Oxford University Press books: "Minority Rights in Asia" (with J Castellino) providing comparative insights on minority protection models beyond literature narrowly focused on national minorities; and "In Defense of Politicisation of Human Rights", corroborating my hypothesis that politicisation is beneficial to human rights agendas.

I was first in publishing a positive evaluation of the United Nations Universal Period Review (UPR) in 2018, debunking the presumption that inter-governmental, peer-review processes could not yield  improvements of human rights situations. These findings were published in the Chinese Journal of International Law, Canadian Yearbook of International Law (with E McMahon) and New Zealand Law Review. These papers led a shift in the scholarship on the UPR and renowned authors (Cowell, Schabas, Shah, Sivakumaran and Vengoechea) have since tested the hypothesis I left open, i.e., that UPR recommendations could trigger the emergence of customary law.

I co-edited two books (Routledge, 2020 and UNOESC, Brazil, 2017) that present collective research and knowledge transfer activities between academics and practitioners in Latin America, China, UK, European Union and India on affirmative action.

In other publications I explore barriers that contradict the complementarity between human rights, development and security, and emphasize the added value of rights-approaches to trade, aid and the Covid pandemic. Another strand of my research focuses on title to territory regarding "forgotten territories", such as Dokdo/Takeshima and Western Sahara, which also form key case studies alongside other live scenarios in my teaching of the discipline.

Qualifications and expertise

  • International Law
  • Minority Rights
  • International Human Rights mechanisms
  • Affirmative Actions
  • Relationship between Human Rights, Development and Security
  • Interplay between politics, human rights and international law

Areas of specialism

  • United Nations Institutions
  • Title to Territory
  • Minority Rights
  • International Organisations and Dispute Resolution
  • International Human Rights Mechanisms

Publications

Jump to: Article | Book | Book Section | Monograph
Number of items: 56.

Article

Dominguez Redondo, Elvira (2022) Russian misuse of international law is final nail in coffin of post WW2 order. IntLawGrrls,

Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira (2022) Unilateral and extraterritorial sanctions symposium : enforcing human rights - the dilemma between sanctions' effectiveness and their legality. Opinio Juris,

Domínguez Redondo, Elvira (2021) Book Review of: 'The Palgrave handbook of critical menstruation' edited by Chris Bobel et al. Human Rights Quarterly, 43(2), pp. 410-416. ISSN (print) 0275-0392

Cebada Romero, Alicia and Dominguez Redondo, Elvira (2021) Spain : one pandemic and two versions of the state of alarm. Verfassungsblog,

Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira [Reviewer] (2021) Book Review of: 'The UN Human Rights Council. A practical anatomy' by Eric Tistounet. Nordic Journal of Human Rights, 39(3), pp. 395-397. ISSN (print) 1891-8131

Dominguez Redondo, Elvira (2018) Have your cake and eat it too : the impossible stance on the Syrian strike. IntLawGrrls : voices on international law, policy, practice,

Dominguez Redondo, Elvira (2017) UK’s lost seat at the International Court of Justice : a reflection on the authority of the Security Council. IntLawGrrls : voices on international law, policy, practice,

Domínguez Redondo, Elvira (2017) La crisis de los derechos humanos : necesidad de un cambio de discurso y estrategias = [Confidence crisis in human rights : the need of rethinking strategies]. Revista ESMAT, 9(14), pp. 103-114. ISSN (print) 2177-0360

Dominguez Redondo, Elvira (2016) The Assange saga : who does the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention represent? IntLawGrrls : voices on international law, policy, practice,

Bernaz, Nadia and Dominguez Redondo, Elvira (2015) Guest post : General Court of the European Union annuls the EU-Morocco Free Trade Agreement on human rights grounds but forgets self-determination. Opinio Juris,

Castellino, Joshua and Domínguez Redondo, Elvira (2015) The title to Dokdo / Takeshima : addressing the legacy of World War II territorial settlements / finding the right settlement of dispute mechanism. International Journal on Minority and Group Rights, 22(4), pp. 550-577. ISSN (print) 1385-4879

Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira and McMahon, Edward (2014) More honey than vinegar : peer-review as a middle ground between universalism and national sovereignty. Canadian Yearbook of International Law = Annuaire canadien de droit international, 51, pp. 61-97. ISSN (print) 0069-0058

Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira (2012) The universal periodic review : is there life beyond naming and shaming in human rights implementation? New Zealand Law Review, 2012(4), pp. 673-706. ISSN (print) 1173-5864

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2011) Rethinking the legal foundations of control in international human rights law – the case of special procedures. Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights, 29(3), pp. 261-288. ISSN (print) 0924-0519

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2009) The Millennium Development Goals and the human rights based approach : reflecting on structural chasms with the United Nations system. The International Journal of Human Rights, 13(1), pp. 29-43. ISSN (print) 1364-2987

Domínguez Redondo, Elvira (2008) The universal periodic review of the UN Human Rights Council : an assessment of the first session. Chinese Journal of International Law, 7(3), pp. 721-734. ISSN (print) 1540-1650

Domínguez Redondo, Elvira (2008) UN public special procedures under Damocles' Sword - two particular innovations : mechanisms for the appointment of mandate-holders, and the adoption of a code of conduct for special procedures mandate-holders of the Human Rights Council. Human Rights Law Journal, 29(1-5), pp. 32-39. ISSN (print) 0174-4704

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2007) Apología del odio. Defensores y periodistas entre la responsabilidad y la persecución. [Human rights defenders, freedom of expression and hate speech: accountability v persecution]. DFensor(7), pp. 17-24. ISSN (print) 1665-8086

Dominguez Redondo, Elvira (2006) Book review of 'In search of identity : debates on religious conversion in India' by Sebastian C. H. Kim. Religion & Human Rights, 1(3), pp. 315-316. ISSN (print) 1871-031X

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2006) La comisión de derechos humanos a debate: el procedimiento 1503 = [Future of the UN commission on human rights: the 1503 procedure]. Revista iberoamericana de derechos humanos(2), pp. 34-80. ISSN (print) 1870-1647

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2006) Now a new human rights council: will a new human rights council be effective or a just another silent spectator? Combat Law, 5(3), pp. 36-37.

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2005) Book review of 'Human rights : International protection, monitoring enforcement' by Janusz Symonides. Journal of International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, 18(4), p. 306. ISSN (online) 0937-5414

Castellino, Joshua and Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira (2004) Minority rights in China : a legal overview. European Yearbook of Minority Issues, 4(1), pp. 51-83. ISSN (print) 1570-7865

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2001) Los procedimientos públicos especiales de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Unidas y las nuevas dimensiones de la actividad del Consejo de Seguridad en el mantenimiento de la paz y seguridad internacional = [Public Procedures of the UN Commission on human rights in the context of the security council and new dimensions of its activities]. Revista electrónica de estudios internacionales, 2, ISSN (print) 1697-5197

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2001) 27° Sesión del Comité de Naciones Unidas contra la Tortura (noviembre 2001) y elección de un experto español como nuevo miembro = [27th Session of the United Nations Committee against Torture (November 2001) and election of a Spanish expert as a new member]. Revista Española de Derecho Internacional, 53(1/2), pp. 653-657. ISSN (print) 0034-9380

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira and Guevara Bermúdez, Antonio (1997) Mecanismos de protección internacional extra-convencionales de derechos humanos = [Extra-conventional international protection mechanisms for human rights]. Jurídica: Anuario de Derecho de la Universidad Iberoamericana(27), pp. 71-86. ISSN (print) 1405-0935

Dominguez Redondo, Elvira (1996) Book review of 'Les Procédures Thématiques. Une contribution efficace des Nations Unies à la protection des droits de l'homme. Éditions, Fondation Marangopoulos pour les droits de l'homme' by Oulivier de Frouville, Emmanuel Decaux & Louis Joinet. Revista Española de Derecho Internacional, 48(2), pp. 425-426. ISSN (print) 0034-9380

Book

Howard, Erica , Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira and Baez, Narciso Leandro Xavier, eds. (2021) Affirmative actions and the law : efficacy of national and international approaches. Abingdon, U.K. : Routledge. 246p. ISBN 9780367219536

Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira (2020) In defense of politicization of human rights : the UN special procedures. New York, U.S. : Oxford University Press. 230p. ISBN 9780197516706

Baez, Narciso Leandro Xavier and Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira, eds. (2018) Existence and efficacy of affirmative action measures in UK, South Africa, India, China, Latin America & Brazil. Santa Catarina, Brazil : Unoesc. 266p. ISBN 9788584221707

Castellino, Joshua and Domínguez Redondo, Elvira (2006) Minority rights in Asia : a comparative legal analysis. Oxford, U.K. : Oxford University Press. 312p. ISBN 9780199296057

Domínguez Redondo, Elvira (2005) Los procedimientos públicos especiales de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Unidas = [The special public procedures of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights]. Valencia, Spain : Tirant lo Blanch. 516p. ISBN 9788484563518

Peces-Barba Martínez, Gregorio, Llamas Gascón, Ángel, Fernández Liesa, Carlos R., Barranco Avilés, María del Carmen [Editor], Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira [Editor], Escudero Alday, Rafael [Editor], Pavón Pérez, Juan Antonio [Editor] and Rodríguez Uribes, José Manuel [Editor] (2001) Textos básicos de derechos humanos : con estudios generales y especiales y comentarios a cada texto nacional e internacional = [Basic texts on human rights : with general and special studies and comments on each national and international text]. Elcano, Spain : Editorial Aranzadi. 729p. ISBN 9788484107569

Book Section

Domínguez Redondo, Elvira and Sepúlveda Carmona, Magdalena (2021) Contextualizing the Cassese report : the dictatorship that changed the United Nations human rights system and its legacy in monitoring economic, social and cultural rights. In: Bohoslavsky, Juan Pablo , Fernández, Karinna and Smart, Sebastián, (eds.) Pinochet's economic accomplices: an unequal country by force. Lanham, U.S. : Lexington Books. pp. 63-76. ISBN 9781793616494

Domínguez Redondo, Elvira (2020) Lagunas (intencionadas) del derecho internacional en la delimitación de obligaciones del Estado =[Intentional gaps in the delimitation of state obligations]. In: Bohoslavsky, Juan Pablo, (ed.) Covid-19 y derechos humanos : la pandemia de la desigualdad. Buenos Aires, Argentina : Editorial Biblios. pp. 77-92. (Derechos Sociales y Políticas Públicas, (75)) ISBN 9789876918602

Domínguez Redondo, Elvira and Sepúlveda Carmona, Magdalena (2019) Contextualizando el Informe Cassese : la dictadura que cambió el sistema de derechos humanos de Naciones Unidas y su legado en el monitoreo de derechos económicos, sociales y culturales =[Contextualizing the Cassese Report: the dictatorship that changed the United Nations human rights system and its legacy in monitoring economic, social and cultural rights]. In: Bohoslavsky, Juan Pablo , Fernández, Karinna and Smart, Sebastián, (eds.) Complicidad económica con la dictadura chilena : un país desigual a la fuerza. Santiago, Chile : LOM ediciones. pp. 97-107. ISBN 9789560011442

Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira (2018) The United Nations approach to temporary special measures. In: Baez, Narciso Leandro Xavier and Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira, (eds.) The existence and efficacy of affirmative action measures in UK, South Africa, India, China, Latin America & Brazil. Santa Catarina, Brazil : Unoesc. pp. 239-269. ISBN 9788584221707

Domínguez Redondo, Elvira (2017) El sistema universal de protección de los derechos humanos =[The universal system of protection of human rights]. In: Mariño Menéndez, Fernando M. , Pérez González, Carmen and Cebada Romero, Alicia, (eds.) Instrumentos y regímenes de cooperación internacional. 2nd ed. Madrid, Spain : Editorial Trotta. pp. 19-40. ISBN 9788498797183

Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira (2017) The history of the special procedures : a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach to human rights implementation. In: Nolan, Aoife , Freedman, Rosa and Murphy, Thérèse, (eds.) The United Nations special procedures system. Leiden, Netherlands : Brill Nijhoff. pp. 9-51. (Nottingham studies on human rights, (6)) ISBN 9789004304697

Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira (2016) Human rights through the backdoor : the contribution of special procedures to the normative coherence and contradictions of international human rights law. In: Buckley, Carla , Donald, Alice and Leach, Philip, (eds.) Towards convergence in international human rights law : approaches of regional and international systems. Leiden, Netherlands : Brill Nijhoff. pp. 543-566. (Nottingham studies on human rights, (5)) ISBN 9789004284241

Castellino, Joshua and Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira (2015) The Declaration and its guidance : a view from South Asia. In: Caruso, Ugo and Hofmann, Rainer, (eds.) The United Nations Declaration on Minorities : an academic account on the occasion of its 20th Anniversary (1992-2012). Leiden, Netherlands : Brill. pp. 283-305. (Studies in International Minority and Group Rights, (9)) ISBN 9789004251557

Castellino, Joshua and Domínguez-Redondo, Elvira (2013) The identity question : who are the Sahrawis and what is their ‘home’? In: Boukhars, Anouar and Roussellier, Jacques, (eds.) Perspectives on Western Sahara : myths, nationalisms and geopolitics. Lanham, U.S. : Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 29-54. ISBN 9781442226852

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2011) Making the connection : security and human rights. In: Bassiouni, M. Cherif and Schabas, William A., (eds.) New challenges for the UN human rights machinery : what future for the UN treaty body system and the Human Rights Council procedures? Cambridge, U.K. : Intersentia. pp. 255-277. ISBN 9781780680552

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2010) Role of the UN in the promotion and protection of human rights. In: Chowdhury, Azizur Rahman and Bhuiyan, Jahid Hossain, (eds.) An introduction to international human rights law. Leiden, Netherlands : Brill Nijhoff. pp. 119-144. (International Law Brill's Paperback Collection) ISBN 9789047444022

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2009) La Declaracion Universal de Derechos Humanos : Precursora y referente normativo de Los mecanismos no Convencionales de Naciones Unidas = [Universal Declaration on Human Rights : pioneer and normative reference of UN non-conventional mechanisms]. In: Caballero Ochoa, Jose Luis, (ed.) La Declaracion Universal de los Derechos Humanos. Reflexiones en torno a su 60 Aniversario. Mexico City, Mexico : Porrúa. pp. 145-167. ISBN 9786070901621

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2009) Proceso de Ratificación en Irlanda del OPCAT = [Ratification process in Ireland of the OPCAT]. In: Mariño Menéndez, Fernando M. and Cebada Romero, Alicia, (eds.) La creación del mecanismo español de prevención de la tortura. Madrid, Spain : Iustel Publicaciones. pp. 183-194. ISBN 9788498900354

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira and Carmona, Magdalena Sepúlveda (2009) An overview of human rights instruments to raise concerns about trade and investment polices. In: Murphy, Sophia and Paasch, Armin, (eds.) The global food challenge : towards a human rights approach to trade and investment policies. Bern, Switzerland : Brot für Alle. pp. 92-101. ISBN 9783981338102

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2007) ¿Debe desaparecer la Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Unidas? = [Should the UN Commission on Human Rights have disappeared?]. In: Beneyeto, José Maria and Becerril Atienza, Belén, (eds.) Una Nueva organización de Naciones Unidas para el Siglo XXI. Madrid, Spain : Biblioteca Nueva. pp. 109-144. (Colección La sociedad internacional contemporánea, (4)) ISBN 9788497426848

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2004) Access to working groups, special rapporteurs and experts. In: Sepúlveda, Magdalena , Banning, Theo van , Gudmundsdottir, Gudrun D. , Chamoun, Christine and Genugten, Willem J.M. van, (eds.) Human Rights Reference Handbook. 3rd revised ed. Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica : University for Peace. pp. 112-114. ISBN 9977925186

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2004) Bioethics and human rights : the challenge of universal standard setting. In: Sepúlveda, Magdalena , Banning, Theo van , Gudmundsdottir, Gudrun D. , Chamoun, Christine and Genugten, Willem J.M. van, (eds.) Human Rights Reference Handbook. 3rd revised ed. Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica : University for Peace. pp. 289-290. ISBN 9977925186

Mariño Menéndez, Fernando, Fernández Liesa, Carlos R. and Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2003) Derechos humanos : libros y artículos = [Human rights : book and article reviews]. In: Díaz Fernández, Antonio M., (ed.) Guía de recursos para el estudio de la Paz, la Seguridady la Defensa = [Guide for the Study of Peace, Security and Defence]. Madrid, Spain : Instituto Universitario “General Gutiérrez Mellado”. pp. 33-45.

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2003) The prevention of torture : complaints mechanism, investigation and prosecution of alleged perpetrators. In: Zhang, Wei and Liu, Huawen, (eds.) Chinese Yearbook of Human Rights. Beijing, China : Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. pp. 390-393. ISBN 9787801902825

Uhalde, Cecilia López, Salvioli, Fabián Omar, Ricciardi, María Isabel, Carrique, Martín, Raimondo, Fabián, Belardinelli, Laura, Bruno, Romina, Trevisan, Pablo, Minatta, Sebastián, Muñoz, Soledad García, De Marco, Alexia, García, Juan Herminio, Dominguez Redondo, Zeballos and Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (1998) Areas temáticas : derechos humanos. In: Consani, Norberto E., (ed.) Anuario en relaciones internacionales 1998. La Plata, Argentina : Instituto de Relaciones Internacionales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.

Monograph

Limon, Marc, Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira [Contributor], Power, Hilary [Contributor], Stahl-Zulu, Inghela [Contributor] and Munoz Tord, Nathalie [Contributor] (2017) Reform of the UN Human Rights petitions system: An assessment of the UN human rights communications procedures and proposals for a single integrate. (Project Report) Versoux, Switzerland : Universal Rights Group. 56 p. ISBN 9782970096191

Baeyens Caro, Angelita, Openshaw, Eleanor, Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira and Figari Layus, Rosario (2015) En defensa de la vida : conclusiones de la Misión de Observación Civil sobre la situación de las personas defensoras en México 2015 = [In defense of life : civil observation mission report on the situation of human rights defenders in Mexico 2015]. (Other) Mexico City, Mexico : CMDPDH. 136 p. ISBN 9786079552879

Dominguez-Redondo, Elvira (2009) The EU, torture secrets and dealing with the truth. (Technical Report) Paris, France : European Union Institute for security studies.

This list was generated on Wed Sep 13 07:13:50 2023 BST.

Business, knowledge transfer and international

My knowledge transfer activities include capacity building for judges, parliamentarians, practitioners, civil society organisations and diplomats in Europe (e.g. participation in European-China Expert Dialogue over 5 years), Asia (e.g. capacity building with the Indian Supreme Court), the Americas (e.g. training of Ombudspersons with the Brazilian Institute of Human Rights). Within the UK I have trained staff members of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Venezuelan Parliamentarians on the rule of law (Westminster Foundation) and have addressed the House of Commons on Tibet and Mexico. 

Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

I have participated in transnational networks that included governmental bodies, international organisations, civil society and academic institutions, such as the Latin-American Network and the European-China Diplomatic and Expert Dialogue.

I have worked with over 50 academic institutions and maintain meaningful national and international partnerships with a wide range of non-governmental and governmental bodies that have contributed to generating research impact and reputational gains for the institutions I have worked for.

I have worked in different capacities with current and former UN Special Rapporteurs and members of UN human rights committees. I have nurtured strong relationships with several bodies linked to the system of protection of human rights, e.g. the Brazilian Institute of Human Rights, University of UNOESC and the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Protection of Human Rights.

My professional memberships include the Advisory Group of the think-tank Universal Rights Group, the Spanish Association of International Law and the Society of Legal Scholars.

As a member of the Universal Periodic Review Academic Network (UPRAN) since April 2022, I am part of a group of academics around the world sharing findings on our research on this mechanism.

Social media

Academia LinkedIn Twitter