Natasha Holcroft-Emmess

On the undergraduate course, I teach constitutional law to first year students, administrative law to second year students, and public international law to finalists. In the Faculty of Law, I lecture on the undergraduate constitutional law course and the graduate BCL/MJur course, constitutional theory. Students are very welcome to contact me for advice about study skills and writing techniques.

My main research interest is in the legal protection of human rights. My DPhil thesis focused on clauses in international human rights treaties that facilitate suspensions of certain rights in times of war and emergency. My research explores how courts interpret such provisions, and whether those interpretations support or undermine the value of human rights protection. I am also interested in international law more generally and in domestic law governing power dynamics between individuals and the State.

‘Hassan v UK: A Harbinger of the Fate of International Human Rights Law?’ in Dickinson et al (eds) International Law Stories (Foundation Press 2025)

‘Notified Derogations and Their Absence: Conditions for Valid Derogation and Measures Restricting Rights in Conflicts and Crises’ (2024) 2 European Human Rights Law Review 147-167

‘“If Only, If Only”: Free Assembly and Exhaustion of Domestic Remedies in the Covid-19 Pandemic’ (2024) 2 European Human Rights Law Review 190-194

 ‘CGAS v Switzerland: Proportionate Limitation or (Non-Notified) Derogation? A Chamber Divided Over Covid-19 Pandemic Restrictions’ (2023) 5 European Human Rights Law Review 482-496