BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow will be honouring Professor Ann Skelton with an honorary Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa in recognition of her excellent leadership as a global figure in international children’s rights and with an established track record in both research and legal practice.
Professor Ann Skelton is the current Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. She is also a professor in the Department of Private Law at the Faculty of Law and holds the UNESCO Chair in Education Law in Africa.
‘It is a fantastic honour to receive this doctorate from the University of Strathclyde which prides itself on being an environment of useful learning. As my career has always been a mix of practice and academia, the idea that education should result in social change is important to me, and it is extra special to be recognised for work that actually helped to improve children’s lives,’ Professor Ann Skelton added.
The University of Strathclyde prides itself on being a place of Useful Learning and on its commitment to using research and education to improve societies. Professor Skelton’s hard work and dedication reflect this ethos.
For over 25 years, Professor Ann Skelton has worked as a human rights lawyer, specialising in the protection of children’s legal rights. She was instrumental in several important court cases, especially those involving education, and she has a significant publication history, both locally and internationally.
In 2021, she played a significant role in the historic decision on carbon emissions that was made by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. At the time, it was decided that a state may be held liable for the detrimental effect of its carbon emissions on children’s rights both inside and outside of its territory. This decision was made in accordance with a ruling that was made at the time.
Image and source: UP
