Anna Lester

Anna Lester is a Lecturer in Law and Human Rights at Sheffield Hallam University, affiliated with the Department of Law and Criminology under the College of Social Sciences and Arts. She holds an LLB (Hons) in Law and an MA in Applied Human Rights (Distinction) from the same institution. Her work focuses on gender-based violence, particularly sexual violence prevention, and its intersections with education and international human rights advocacy.

Education:

• LLB (Hons) Law, Sheffield Hallam University
• MA in Applied Human Rights, Sheffield Hallam University (Distinction)

Research Interests:

Lester specializes in addressing domestic and sexual violence through legal frameworks and educational interventions. Her work emphasizes reducing violence prevalence through policy advocacy and grassroots initiatives, informed by fieldwork in Lesotho and South Africa with Africa’s Gift. She explores how education shapes societal attitudes toward gender-based violence, particularly in global contexts.

Teaching:

• LLB Law degree courses: Criminal Law, Streetlaw
• BA Criminology degree courses: Victims, Offenders and Vulnerabilities; Criminological Landscapes; Criminal Justice

Awards:

• Streetlaw Schools and Urban Lawyers Prize (2015)
• Albie Sachs Africa’s Gift Prize (2020)

Additional Contributions:

Lester contributed to a Helena Kennedy Centre report for the UK Home Office on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Her research often bridges academic analysis with actionable policy recommendations, reflecting her commitment to applied human rights work.