Cynthia Umezulike | |
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| Born | Cynthia Chisom Umezulike |
| Alma mater | |
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| Family | Father Innocent Umezulike |
Cynthia Chisom Umezulike is a British Nigerian human rights lawyer, [1] legal scholar, author [2] and climate sustainability activist. [3] [4] She is the president at the Global Human Rights Centre (GHRC) London, [5] co-chair of the Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike Foundation [6] and chair and director of the International Conference on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate Change. [7]
Umezulike was born to jurist father who served as the chief judge of Enugu State Innocent Umezulike. [8] [9] She attended Our Lord's Shepherd International School (OLSIS) in Enugu and later joined Igbinedion University in Edo State, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree. [10] She attended the Nigerian Law School and became a Barrister and Solicitor at Law (BL) Federal Republic of Nigeria Law (BL). [11]
She thereafter got a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in international human rights law from the Queen Mary University of London and later obtained a second master's degree LL.M. degree in international law and criminal justice from University of East London. [12] She went on to attend Birkbeck, University of London, graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in law. [13]
After completing her studies, She began working as the head of legal and business governance at Diamond Hanger Aviation London and a lecturer in constitutional and administrative law at the University of London, and international human rights lecturer at the University of Buckingham, Chair of the International Conference on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate Change at University of Buckingham. [14] She also became the director of human rights and advocacy and worked as a third sector Head of Racial Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, helping organizations in developing and implementing cultural interventions to drive systemic and cultural change. [15] [16]
In 2019, Umezulike set up The Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike Foundation, during a memorial lecture marking the first anniversary of her father's death with a presentation of the book Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike: A Chronicle of Leading Judgements Volume 1 [17] [18] and later became a co-chair and trustee of the foundation, which is named after her father. [19] [20]
She was recommended by the United Nations Consultative Group to the president of the Hunan Rights Council in 2024 as the final two nominee for the human rights independent expert mandate Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent [21] and as a member of the Working Group of Experts on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas [22]
In 2024, she authored a short story titled, The Death of Mother: An Ogbanje Story. [23] [24]
In 2022, she received the Distinguished Emerging Scholar Award from Marymount Manhattan College, New York [25] and the Global Engagement award from the University of East London in 2024. [26] In 2010, she won Miss Commonwealth International Nigeria and represented Nigeria at Miss Commonwealth International [27]
Michael Donald Kirby is an Australian jurist and academic who is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, serving from 1996 to 2009. He has remained active in retirement; in May 2013 he was appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to lead an inquiry into human rights abuses in North Korea, which reported in February 2014.
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Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, FCArb, born 19 February 1968 in Idah, Kogi State, is a legal practitioner and notary public with the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Onoja has authored several publications on legal and social subjects in Nigeria, including The Supreme Court Rules: Practice and Procedure and The Court of Appeal Rules: Practice and Procedure, both published in 2010; the Federal High Court Rules: Practice and Procedure, volumes 1 and 2, published in 2012; and Fundamental Rights Rules, 2009 published in 2021.
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