Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Institute of Commonwealth Studies It is also home to the longest-running interdisciplinary and practice-oriented human rights MA program in the UK.

Leading impactful research, education and collaboration on challenges to strengthen
democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the modern Commonwealth and
globally. The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, founded in 1949, is the only postgraduate academic institution in the United Kingdom devoted to the study of the Commonwealth. The Institute is a national and international centre of excellenc

e for policy-relevant research, research facilitation and teaching. As a member of the School of Advanced Study, the Institute aims to address the challenges confronting the modern Commonwealth through the development of effective policy solutions. The Institute’s Library is an international resource holding more than 190,000 volumes, with particularly impressive Caribbean, Southern African and Australian holdings and over 200 archival collections.

Alumni Spotlight 🎓 🔦 3️⃣ 0️⃣ As part of the 30th Anniversary of Human Rights Education at the , we will be profiling alu...
29/05/2026

Alumni Spotlight 🎓 🔦 3️⃣ 0️⃣

As part of the 30th Anniversary of Human Rights Education at the
, we will be profiling alumni and currents students on our MA and PhD programmes to highlight their contributions to securing human rights.

⭐ This month's alum is Patrick Duce ⭐

Patrick is a housing and homelessness professional with more than 15 years’ experience working at the intersection of human rights, social justice and public policy. Throughout his career, he has been committed to advancing the right to adequate housing and developing practical solutions to address homelessness, housing exclusion and inequality. He currently works as a civil servant leading the Voluntary and Community Sector Team at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), where he oversees national homelessness funding and policy programmes that support efforts to prevent and end homelessness across England. This includes the £37m Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, the £12m National Workforce Programme and the national StreetLink service.

Read more about his impressive accomplishments: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/alumni-spotlight-patrick-duce

,

School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London
Human Rights Consortium

Join us NEXT WEEK on 2 June 2026 from 6pm in Senate House for a special community screening: THE PEOPLE'S EMERGENCY BRIE...
25/05/2026

Join us NEXT WEEK on 2 June 2026 from 6pm in Senate House for a special community screening: THE PEOPLE'S EMERGENCY BRIEFING - an eye-opening film bringing together ten leading UK scientists and experts with the latest evidence and why it matters for things like:

🍞 Food security
🏥 Health
💷 Cost of living
🪪 National security
💷 Economics
🌳 Nature

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=Zyx8pq01Dvl6b80V&v=JaI-dHgh65Q&feature=youtu.be

The film is based on the National Emergency Briefing (NEB) in Westminster (featured by ITV, Channel 4 and The Times) with appearances from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, and a range of voices from across the UK.

After the film there will be a panel discussion chaired by Professor Damien Short, Professor of Human Rights and Environmental Justice.

The panel includes:

- Professor Paul Behrens, British Academy Global Professor and expert in food system transformations
- Angela Francis, Policy expert in green economics
- Jojo Mehta, Co-founder of Stop Ecocide

Seats are free but limited so please book in advance: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/special-community-screening-peoples-emergency-briefing

Bring a friend, neighbour or family member: everyone is welcome.

Please share with your networks!

The screening is presented in partnership between the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London's Sustainability Team and National Emergency Briefing. Note: the film is only being shown at in-person screenings and is not available online.



School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London

On 19 May 2026, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies together with its partners, the International Commission of Jurist...
21/05/2026

On 19 May 2026, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies together with its partners, the International Commission of Jurists and The Commonwealth with support from the Open Society Foundations, hosted the launch of two groundbreaking initiatives in London: the Practitioners’ Guide on a Human Rights-Based Approach to the Decriminalisation of Poverty and Status, and the People-Centred Public Safety Fellowships.

The high-level launch brought together world-renowned legal experts, human rights defenders, judges and policymakers.

Featured speakers included:

- Livio Zilli, Deputy Director of Programs, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
- Dr Elizabeth Macharia Mokobi, Legal Adviser and Head (a.g), Rule of Law, The Commonwealth Secretariat
- Hugo Tovar, Director, Security and Rights, Open Society Foundations (OSF)
- Justice Aruna Devi Narain, ICJ Commissioner and Judge of the Supreme Court of Mauritius
- Dr Mutuma Ruteere, Director, National Crime Research Centre (NCRC)
- Professor Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing

Read more about the event here: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/uk-launch-practitioners-guide-human-rights-based-approach-decriminalisation-poverty-status-people



School of Advanced Study - University of London
Universal Studios Hollywood

We are delighted to host the UK launch of the People-Centred Public Safety Fellowships and the Practitioners’ Guide on a...
14/05/2026

We are delighted to host the UK launch of the People-Centred Public Safety Fellowships and the Practitioners’ Guide on a Human Rights-Based Approach to the Decriminalisation of Poverty and Status.

The event will be delivered in partnership with the International Commission of Jurists and The Commonwealth, with support from the Open Society Foundations under auspices of the Global Campaign. We look forward to welcoming key guests and speakers including, Dr Elizabeth Macharia, Livio Zilli, Hugo Tovar and Prof Balakrishnan Rajagopal.

View the event details and full programme here: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/human-rights-security-decriminalisation-poverty-status

And learn more about the project on our website: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/research-projects/decriminalisation-poverty-status



School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London
Human Rights Consortium
Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty & Status - Poverty is Not a Crime

3 WEEKS TO GO 👇 👇👇Join us on 2 June 2026 for a special community screening: THE PEOPLE'S EMERGENCY BRIEFING - an eye-ope...
12/05/2026

3 WEEKS TO GO 👇 👇👇

Join us on 2 June 2026 for a special community screening: THE PEOPLE'S EMERGENCY BRIEFING - an eye-opening film bringing together ten leading UK scientists and experts with the latest evidence and why it matters for things like:

🍞 Food security
🏥 Health
💷 Cost of living
🪪 National security
💷 Economics
🌳 Nature

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: https://youtu.be/JaI-dHgh65Q?si=Zyx8pq01Dvl6b80V

The film is based on the National Emergency Briefing (NEB) in Westminster (featured by ITV, Channel 4 and The Times) with appearances from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, and a range of voices from across the UK.

After the film there will be a panel discussion chaired by Professor Damien Short, Professor of Human Rights and Environmental Justice.

The panel includes:

- Professor Paul Behrens, British Academy Global Professor and expert in food system transformations
- Angela Francis, Policy expert in green economics
- Jojo Mehta, Co-founder of Stop Ecocide
- Scarlett Westbrook, Coordinator and spokesperson for the UK Student Climate Network

Seats are free but limited so please book in advance: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/special-community-screening-peoples-emergency-briefing

Bring a friend, neighbour or family member: everyone is welcome.

Please share with your networks!

The screening is presented in partnership between the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London's Sustainability Team and National Emergency Briefing. Note: the film is only being shown at in-person screenings and is not available online.

08/05/2026

How can Parliaments ensure that media freedoms are upheld?

Ensuring that Parliaments uphold the principles of media freedom and expression help to promote good governance in the Commonwealth. It is vital that Parliamentarians take a stand.

To mark World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, this blog by William Horsley (Commonwealth Journalists Association) explores recent developments and the role that MPs can play.

Read the blog ⬇
https://www.cpahq.org/knowledge-centre/blogs/media-freedoms-and-parliament/




Institute of Commonwealth Studies Committee to Protect Journalists Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative The Commonwealth UNESCO

‼️ CALL FOR PAPERS ‼️ 3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on the Commonwealth of Nations, St Mary’s University, Twic...
08/05/2026

‼️ CALL FOR PAPERS ‼️

3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on the Commonwealth of Nations, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, UK, Friday 27 November 2026

Theme: The Commonwealth and Geopolitics
Abstract deadline: 1 July 2026

In recent years there have been an increasing number of significant challenges to the post-WWII rules-based world order: from the continued erosion of multilateralism, the unravelling of the UN, the upending of the international developmental model, increasing defiance of international law, contraction of free trade, constriction of freedom of navigation, the slide towards authoritarianism and the use of force to settle disputes in international politics.

What space and opportunities are there for the Commonwealth, a self-declared values-based association, when confronted by such fragmentation of the broader international system? When the greatest dangers to international peace and security appear to come from great powers, what tangible benefits can a highly diverse association offer its middle power members and the majority of small and Small Island Developing States?

Full details here: https://www.commonwealthroundtable.co.uk/general/journal-notices/call-for-papers-3rd-annual-interdisciplinary-conference-on-the-commonwealth-of-nations/

Congratulations to all of our graduating students including Brenda Kositany and Wai Hon Chiu pictured here at the ceremo...
29/04/2026

Congratulations to all of our graduating students including Brenda Kositany and Wai Hon Chiu pictured here at the ceremony yesterday with Professor Corinne Lennox and Dr Karen Bennett.

In honour of the University of London graduation this week, here's a look back to the School of Advanced Study's ceremony from February which included a moving speech from another MA Human Rights graduate Victoria Romo: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/school-advanced-study-graduation-2026



University of London
School of Advanced Study - University of London
Human Rights Consortium

Alumni Spotlight 🎓 🔦 3️⃣ 0️⃣ As part of the 30th Anniversary of Human Rights Education at the , we will be profiling alu...
28/04/2026

Alumni Spotlight 🎓 🔦 3️⃣ 0️⃣

As part of the 30th Anniversary of Human Rights Education at the

, we will be profiling alumni and currents students on our MA and PhD programmes to highlight their contributions to securing human rights.

⭐ This month's alum is MICHAEL MPEREMBE ⭐

Michael is a Malawian human rights practitioner currently serving as a principal child rights officer at the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), an independent national human rights institution. He also serves in the institution’s Internal Integrity Committee and as vice chairperson of the Social Welfare Committee.

He is a board member of the 'Tear Dryers’, a non-governmental organisation registered both in Malawi and France to promote and protect the rights of street-connected children through education, training, employment and mental health support services.

He is a graduate of the MA in Human Rights (Distinction) at the University of London, where his dissertation critically examined Malawi’s education policy against international legal frameworks, focusing on the right to education for linguistic minorities.

Read more about his impressive accomplishments here: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/alumni-spotlight-michael-mperembe



School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London
Human Rights Consortium

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies is delighted to announce that Professor Luis Franceschi is our newest Senior Resea...
27/04/2026

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies is delighted to announce that Professor Luis Franceschi is our newest Senior Research Fellow.

https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/welcoming-professor-luis-franceschi-newest-icws-senior-research-fellow

From July 2022 to February 2026, Professor Franceschi was the Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations where he coordinated the Political, Democracy, Electoral, Public Sector Governance, Peace, Rule of Law, Judicial Transformation, Human Rights, and Countering Violence and Extremism work in the 56 member countries. He was also the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting - CHOGM Conference Secretary.

Institute Director Professor Kingsley Abbott is delighted to welcome him to the ICwS:

"Luis brings an exceptional combination of intellectual leadership and practical experience at the heart of the Commonwealth, where he has advanced work on democracy, the rule of law, and governance across member states. His experience aligns closely with the Institute’s priorities and will greatly enrich our research community. We look forward to benefiting from the insight, positivity, and collaborative spirit for which he is well known."

Read more about Prof Franceschi's incredible accomplishments here: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/people/professor-luis-gabriel-franceschi



School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London

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