Silvia Martins, an LLB law graduate with first-class honours from Queen's University Belfast, has been awarded a prestigious doctoral scholarship from the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy.

In October 2024, she commenced her PhD project entitled: "Corporate Responsibility for Criminal Human Rights Violations: Developing Effective Legal Mechanisms".  Her research seeks to answer critical questions regarding how a comprehensive international legal framework can hold corporations criminally liable for widespread harm to global communities and what mechanisms can ensure accountability for transnational corporations contributing to ecological degradation and public health crises.

Given the urgent need for effective regulatory measures, Silvia aims to explore innovative legal strategies that connect human rights and environmental protections. Reflecting on her motivation, Silvia shared “My passion for this research arises from a deep concern for the profound impact that corporate activities have on vulnerable communities. I believe that by developing comprehensive legal frameworks, we can effectively safeguard the rights of individuals and hold corporations accountable for their actions. This project aims to illuminate the critical intersection of human rights and corporate practices, advocating for a legal system that prioritizes people over profit and ensures justice for those affected by environmental and social injustices.”

Dr Guida said “This groundbreaking research aims to address some of the most pressing and complex legal challenges facing our world today: How corporations can be held criminally liable for widespread environmental harm and violations of environmental, cultural, and health rights,and what mechanisms can be put in place to ensure accountability for transnational corporations that contribute to ecological degradation and public health crises. The project is particularly timely in the context of increasing global concern over issues such as climate change, deforestation, pollution, and public health crises like the spread of infectious diseases. Moreover, its importance cannot be overstated, especially as we continue to witness the devastating impacts of unchecked corporate activities—from environmental destruction to public health emergencies. As a result, there is an urgent need for a robust, enforceable global legal framework that goes beyond voluntary guidelines or national laws. The supervisory team on this project is eager to explore these issues with Silvia over the next years”.

Silvia will be supervised by Dr Alessandra Guida and Dr Alessandro Corda.

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We welcome PhD applications from prospective students. Further details on how to apply can be found at https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofLaw/study/postgraduate-research/