Helen Duffy

Helen Duffy is a Professor of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, part of Leiden University's Institute of Public Law. Her work focuses on the intersection of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL), particularly in contexts of armed conflict, (counter)terrorism, and climate justice. She has pioneered research on strategic litigation and the effective protection of fundamental rights in pluralist legal systems.

Key research themes include: the co-applicability of IHL and IHRL in conflict zones, the universality of human rights protections, and legal frameworks governing counter-terrorism operations. Her 2020 book chapter in Law Applicable to Armed Conflict explores norm conflicts and coordination techniques between legal regimes, while her 2017 work on the CIA's extraordinary rendition program analyzes state-sponsored detentions and their implications.

Publications span topics like:

• Legal adjudication in conflict scenarios
• Human rights under the 'War on Terror'
• Normative principles guiding international law
• Interplay between security and human rights

Contact: h.duffy@law.leidenuniv.nl