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Ms Rosemarie McIlwhan

Staff profile

See below for Ms Rosemarie McIlwhan's:

Biography

Rosemarie is a Lecturer in Law at the Law School. She graduated LLB (Hons) from the University of Glasgow. Rosemarie was an associate lecturer with the Open University from 2007 teaching law and international development at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Prior to joining the Open University, Rosemarie was a human rights consultant. Her work included establishing the GB Equality and Human Rights Commission; and advising the Scottish, Welsh and UK governments and various UK public authorities on constitutional and human rights issues. Prior to this Rosemarie was the Director of the Scottish Human Rights Centre, a national NGO with a remit to promote and protect human rights. She also previously taught on the Solicitor's Professional Competence Course provided by the WS Society.

In addition to her work with the Open University, Rosemarie is an Associate at the University of Edinburgh where she lecturers on human rights and equality. Rosemarie is also a member of the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Teaching interests

  • Public law, in particular human rights and constitutional law.
  • Public international law, in particular international human rights law.
  • International development.

Research interests

My core research interest is human rights and equality (domestic and international). Within this I am particularly interested in sectarianism; refugee and asylum law; and ethics. I am also interested in legal education.

My current research activities include:

  • Third Sector Internships Programme - 4 year longitudinal research study of the ethics and legalities of the use of internships in the Third Sector (more information at www.3rdsectorintern.com)
  • Paralegal Education - qualitative and quantitative study of paralegal education.
  • Book chapters on human rights; terrorism; and international institutions.

External contributions

Research reports
McIlwhan, R. (2011), Review of Legal Education Provision in Scotland, Edinburgh: Open University (www.open.ac.uk/Scotland)
McIlwhan, R. et al (2010), Evaluation of the Disability Duties in Northern Ireland, Belfast: Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Rogers, S., McIlwhan, R., and Kingston, I., (2009), A standard of compliance for section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, unpublished: Equality Commission Northern Ireland
McIlwhan, R. (2009), A collaboration between NHS Boards providing guidance on creating single equality schemes, Glasgow: NHS National Services Scotland
McIlwhan, R. with Riddell, S. et al (2008), Reporting on Progress towards Equality of Opportunity between Disabled Persons and Other Persons made by Public Authorities in Scotland: the Scottish Ministers’ Duties, Edinburgh: Scottish Government. (Responsible for Justice Chapter)
McIlwhan, R. and Marshall, S. (2008), Single Equality Scheme Guidance and Framework for Colleges, Stirling: Scottish Further Education Unit
McIlwhan, R., (2006) Review of Scottish Public Policy Statistics, Glasgow: Equal Opportunities Commission
Articles
McIlwhan, R, (2008). The EHRC Human Rights Inquiry Bulletin Runnymede Quarterly No.354, June 2008
McIlwhan, R. (2008). Why Human Rights Add Value. Bulletin Runnymede Quarterly No.354, June 2008
McIlwhan, R, (2006). The Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Scottish Human Rights Journal 33(Aug), 2-4 and Scottish Human Rights Journal 2006, 34(Oct), 2-4
McIlwhan, R. (2005) Reducing the prison population: Realistic alternatives, 2005 SCOLAG 120
McIlwhan, R, (2003). A Scottish Human Rights Commission: A Pillar of the Establishment or Obstruction to Justice?, Scottish Human Rights Journal 2003, 18(Jun), 2-6.
McIlwhan, R., (2002) Protecting equality and human rights in Scotland, 2002 SCOLAG 106
Conference papers
McIlwhan, R. (2011) “AL Scholarship in the Open University: TSIS – a case study”, AL conference, Open University, Tulliallan, 3 June 2011
Caddell, M., and McIlwhan, R. (2011) “Internships in the Third Sector: A new form of engagement or papering over the cracks?”, Voluntary Sector Studies Network Conference, Open University, Milton Keynes, 19 May 2011
McIlwhan, R. (2008) “Developing Citizenship Skills through the Curriculum”, British Council Living Together Conference, London, 13 & 14 March 2008
McIlwhan, R. (2005) “Human rights in a globalising era”, University of Windsor, Canada; August 2005
McIlwhan, R. (2003) “The need for a Scottish Human Rights Commission”, Glasgow: Glasgow Graduate Law School
McIlwhan, R. (2003). “Tackling Discrimination”, Scottish Association for Mental Health annual conference, Perth, 9 October 2003
McIlwhan, R. (2002). “Human Rights and a Single Equality Body”, Centre for Scottish Public Policy Conference, Edinburgh, 25 November 2002.

Areas of expertise

  • Human rights
  • International law
  • Constitutional law

Current projects