This research examines how cultural narratives of “monsters” shape legal perceptions of marginalized groups, particularly queer people of color. Using a utopian framework, it proposes equity-based reforms to the criminal justice system, addressing the intersection of race and sexuality and amplifying underrepresented voices in legal scholarship and social justice discourse.

This research examines how families of the disappeared in Colombia and Mexico conduct their own searches when authorities fail. Using ethnography and legal analysis, it highlights their role as investigators and advocates. The work aims to improve policy, challenge marginalisation, and recognise families’ critical role in uncovering truth and justice.

This research examines the legal risks of mind-reading neurotechnology in criminal justice. By developing a neurorights framework—covering mental autonomy, privacy, and integrity—it aims to protect freedom of thought while enabling responsible forensic use of brain data as neurotechnologies rapidly advance.

This research examines migrant worker exploitation in the Maldives through interviews and fieldwork. It shows how weak enforcement, informal power structures, and xenophobic narratives allow abuse to persist despite formal laws. By developing a public awareness campaign, the work aims to increase accountability and challenge misconceptions surrounding migrant labor.

My thesis uncovers the forgotten history of the US Children’s Bureau, once a global leader in children’s rights. Through archival research, it traces postwar innovation, a 1960s expansion inspired by civil rights, and the bureau’s dismantling under Nixon. The work highlights today’s parallels and the need to restore moral leadership for children.