Professor Uchenna Emelonye

Professor Uchenna Emelonye mainstreams into academia, decades of multidisciplinary experiences in human rights and rule of law gained from 22 conflict/post conflict countries and four continents. He is a Visiting Professor of Human Rights Law at Bournemouth University UK and has lectured at several other universities and institutes in Europe and Africa, including pioneering the introduction of human rights as common-core-course for all undergraduate students. Professor Emelonye was the Country Representative of United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda and Liberia, and Senior Human Rights Adviser to the United Nations in Kenya and Sierra Leone respectively. Similarly, he was a Judicial Affairs Officer, United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur Sudan (UNAMID); Human Rights Officer, UN Mission in Kosovo and Sudan respectively. Outside the UN, Professor Emelonye was also the Head, Governance, Institutional and Justice Reform at International Development Law Organization (IDLO) Rome Italy. On this post, he superintended over a global rule of law portfolio on constitutional, institutional, legal and judicial reforms across legal systems in Asia and Africa, including supporting the drafting of the Bill of Rights and Rule of Law chapters of the constitutions of Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan. He was also the Chief-of-Party, “European Commission Emergency Assistance to the Justice System of South Sudan” and successfully led the transition from Islamic legal system to English Common Law in 2007. Other cognate positions include Rule of Law Coordinator, International Rescue Committee (IRC) New York; Executive Director, Constitutional Rights Project (CRP-Nigeria); Senior Legal Officer, The Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS), etc. Professor Emelonye was admitted to the roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1995 and holds a doctorate degree in Law (LLD) from the University of Helsinki Finland.

Books: 

Tony Ojukwu, Ifeoma Nwakama and Uchenna Emelonye, Human Rights Index: Nigeria’s Treaty Reports and Concluding Observations of Treaty Bodies (2023) National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria  https://www.nigeriarights.gov.ng/publications.html

Tony Ojukwu, Ifeoma Nwakama and Uchenna Emelonye, Human Rights in Nigeria: Perspectives of Special Procedures of the United Nations (2023) National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria https://www.nigeriarights.gov.ng/publications.html

Uchenna Emelonye, Dialectics of Rights: Nigeria’s Engagement with the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council (2021) Joint publication of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and Safari Publishers https://www.nigeriarights.gov.ng/publications.html

Uchenna Emelonye, Proportionality and Best Interests: Calibrating the Twin Pillars of Child Justice in Nigeria (2014) LL.D Thesis, University of Helsinki Finland. https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/136100

Uchenna Emelonye, Nigeria: Peace Building Through Integration and Citizenship (2011) International Development Law Organisation http://www.idlo.org/Publications/NIGERIABOOK.pdf

Uchenna Emelonye, Legal Aid in Nigeria: Comparative Perspectives (2007)      Constitutional Rights Project (CRP) ISBN: 978-38532-3-6 https://books.google.com/books/about/Legal_Aid_in_Nigeria.html?id=inzdcQAACAA J

Uchenna Emelonye, Intergenerational Inequity: Osu Caste Practice in South-East Nigeria (2005) Rights Access Network. ISBN:978-219-264-3

Olisa Agbakoba and Uchenna Emelonye, Test of Progressive Realization of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Nigeria (1990-1999) Budget Analysis. (2001) The Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) ISBN:978-055-551-X

Uchenna Emelonye, The Governance Score Card; Review of Democratic Governance in Nigeria (2000) The Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) ISBN: 978-044-784-9

Olisa Agbakoba and Uchenna Emelonye, Legal and Judicial Sector Reform in Nigeria       (2000) The Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) 

Chapter in Books: 

Uchenna Emelonye, Political Finance in Nigeria: A Policy Agenda for Reform (2003) CLASA

Uchenna Emelonye, Challenges to Implementing The Justice Provisions Of The Child Rights Act of Nigeria (2018) Lawyering With Integrity: Essays In Honour of Ernest Ojukwu, SAN. https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1387824570

Uchenna Emelonye, Interpreting Child Justice as Child Rights (2014) Contemporary Issues on Law and Society. A Tribute to An Exponent: Honourable Justice B.A. Njemanze Published by High Court of Justice Imo State ISBN:978-978- 51318-9-5

Uchenna Emelonye, Assessing Proportionality and Best Interest Principles in the 2003 Child Rights Act (2013) Law, Social Justice and Development. A Festschrift for Professor Uba Nnabue. Published by Imo State University Press

Uchenna Emelonye and Uchefula Chukwumaeze, Constitutional Developments and Legal Frameworks in Nigeria – In Peace Building Through Integration and Citizenship. (2011) International Development Law Organisation http://www.idlo.org/Publications/NIGERIABOOK.pdf

Uchenna Emelonye, Crises and Conflict in Nigeria - In Peace Building Through Integration and Citizenship. (2011) International Development Law Organisation http://www.idlo.org/Publications/NIGERIABOOK.pdf 

Articles: 

Uchenna Emelonye and Francis Igiriogu, “Human Rights as the Foundation for Ethical Practice of Law” (2022) Global Journal of Politics and Law Research Vol.10, No.1, pp.1-14, available at Human-Rights-as-the-Foundation-for-Ethical-Practice-of- Law.pdf (eajournals.org)

Uchenna Emelonye, Francis Igiriogu and Ernestine Ebai, “Respect for and  Protection of Human Rights: An Imperative for Peace, Security and Development in Liberia” (2022) European American Journal, Vol.10, No.1, pp.56-70, available at https://www.eajournals.org/wp-content/uploads/Respect-for-and-Protection-of- Human-Rights.pdf

Uchenna Emelonye and Chukwudi Victor Odoeme, “Insecurity, Rule of Law and Human Rights in Nigeria: Are Lawyers on the Right Path of History?” (2022) Accepted for publication by Global Journal of Politics and Law Research https://doi.org/10.37745/gjplr.2013

Uchenna Emelonye, “Non-Governmental Appraisal of the Frameworks for the  Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Nigeria” (2021). Global Journal of Politics and Law Research, Vol.9, No.5, pp.15-31, Available at SSRN: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3875164

Uchenna Emelonye, “Implementation of International Human Rights               Obligations in Nigeria: Civil Society Perspective” (2021) Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(6), 330–344 available at https://journals.scholarpublishing.org/index.php/ASSRJ/issue/view/363 

Uchenna Emelonye, “Non-Governmental Appraisal of the Frameworks for the       Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Nigeria” (2021). Global Journal of Politics and Law Research, Vol.9, No.5, pp.15-31, Available at SSRN: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3875164

Uchenna Emelonye, “Overview of Nigeria’s 2nd Universal Periodic Review National Report” (2021) International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis Vol. 04 available at https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v4 -i6-18

Uchenna Ponfa Emelonye and Uchenna Emelonye, “Public Policy Exception in                 the Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in Nigeria” (2020) Beijing Law Review available at https://www.scirp.org/pdf/blr_2021033015471651.pdf

Helen Kezie-Nwoha and Uchenna Emelonye, “Women in Armed Conflict in Uganda” (2020) International Journal of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences Studies (IJAHSSS) ISSN: 2582-1601 available at http://www.ijahss.com/Paper/05112020/1179451292.pdf

Uchenna Emelonye, “Normative Evolution of Child Rights in Nigeria” (2020) Journal of Advance Research in Social Science and Humanities (ISSN: 2208-2387), 6(9), 01-12 available at https://nnpub.org/index.php/SSH/article/view/870/702

Uchenna Emelonye, Patrice Vahard and Uchenna Ponfa Emelonye, “Normative  and Institutional Framework for Defending Human Rights Defenders in Liberia” (2020)  US – China Law Review, Vol 17, No 4, 155 - 168 http://www.davidpublisher.com/index.php/Home/Article/index?id=43675.html

Uchenna Emelonye, Abigail U Emelonye and Uchenna P Emelonye, “Human Rights Based Approach to Maternal Mortality in Nigeria” (2019) US-China Law Review. http://www.davidpublisher.com/Public/uploads/Contribute/5d51002f2d97e.pdf

Uchenna Emelonye, “Standardizing and Operationalizing the Child Justice System in Nigeria” (2018) Miyetti Quarterly Law Review http.miyettiquarterlylawreview.com

Uchenna Emelonye, “Theoretical and Normative Foundation of Child Rights” (2018) US China Law Review Vol 15, No 1, 1 – 17  http://www.davidpublisher.org/Public/uploads/Contribute/5baed9e775f63.pdf

Uchenna Emelonye, “Impact of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution on Child Rights in Nigeria” (2017) Miyetti Quarterly Law Review http.miyettiquarterlylawreview.com

Uchenna Emelonye, “Diverse Strategies in Human Rights Education: Sharing Experience of Introducing Human Rights as Undergraduate Common Core Course in  Kenya” (2015) 12 US-China L. Rev. 446 

https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/uschinalrw12&div=3 7&id=&page=&t=1557773427 

Uchenna Emelonye, “The Principle of Proportionality: Framework for Juvenile    Justice in Nigeria: (2012) African Journal of Clinical Legal Education and Access to Justice Vol. 1. ISSN 2315-5728 https://namati.org/resources/african-journal-of- clinical-legal-education-and-access-to-justice/ 

Fusion and intersection of human rights law and practice