UCD PhD Student Awarded Irish Research Council Funding

Congratulations to UCD Law PhD candidate, Sharon Etokhana, who has been awarded doctoral funding from the (opens in a new window)Irish Research Council Enterprise Partnership Scheme. Having successfully completed a bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) in Lancaster University, United Kingdom in 2017, she qualified as a Barrister-at-Law and Solicitor in the Nigerian Law School in 2018. In 2019, she completed a Master’s degree (LLM) specialising in human rights and criminal justice at the University of Limerick, graduating with first class honours degree. In 2021, Sharon commenced her PhD in law at University College Dublin.

Sharon’s PhD research asks how and why Irish law developed its current sex trafficking law model. The research analyses what changes may be necessary within law and/or policy to enhance human rights compliance. Sharon’s research provides an opportunity for comprehensive critical analysis on the complexities present in the sex trafficking law and policy in light of political influences, feminist theoretical discourse and migrant specific needs and vulnerabilities. Through in-depth contextual analysis of law, policy and practice from a rights-based approach, a strategy for the prevention and prosecution of sex trafficking in proposed. The research is supervised by (opens in a new window)Dr Liam Thornton, associate professor, UCD Sutherland School of Law. The enterprise partner for this research is (opens in a new window)Akina Dada wa Africa( AkiDwA) a Dublin based migrant women NGO