Alice Donald

Dr Alice Donald is Professor of Human Rights Law in the Department of Law and Social Sciences at Middlesex University. She holds leadership roles as Director of Research for Law and Postgraduate Research Degrees Coordinator, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her academic career is complemented by significant policy engagement and international consultancy.

Research Interests: Alice Donald's research centers on human rights implementation, particularly the role of national parliaments in enforcing judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. She explores the intersection of human rights and democratic governance, focusing on the UK’s compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights, the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998, and challenges posed by emerging legislation such as the Illegal Migration Act. Her work also addresses the rule of law, accountability mechanisms, and the protection of socio-economic rights.

Her recent publications, including explainers for UK in a Changing Europe and articles in Human Rights Law Review, reflect a strong trend in analyzing contemporary legal-political tensions between the UK and the Council of Europe. She frequently examines how political narratives challenge judicial authority and human rights norms, especially in migration and emergency governance contexts such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scientific Engagement:

• Provided oral and written evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the Human Rights Act and the Safety of Rwanda Bill.
• Served as an expert consultant for the Council of Europe, drafting guidance and training parliamentarians since 2013.
• Co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Law and the COVID-19 Pandemic, emphasizing human rights as a core framework for crisis governance.

Supervision and Grants: She supervises doctoral researchers, including Narine Gasparyan. While specific grants are not listed, her research has been supported through institutional and policy-oriented projects with bodies like the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Labs and Teams: Alice Donald collaborates extensively with scholars such as Philip Leach and Joelle Grogan, often working in interdisciplinary teams on human rights implementation, policy evaluation, and comparative legal studies. She contributes to collective research initiatives focused on the Council of Europe and domestic human rights enforcement mechanisms.