Dr. Naomi Lott
ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford
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Visiting Research Fellow in Law and Children's Rights
Rights Lab, University of Nottingham
Research Area(s): The Right to Play, Children's Rights, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, Economic and Social Rights
Education:
Naomi Lott has recently been awarded a PhD in Socio-Legal Studies from the University of Nottingham, passing with no corrections. Her research was ESRC funded.
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She graduated with a BScEcon (Hons) in International Politics and The Third World from Aberystwyth University in 2012. For her undergraduate dissertation, Naomi conducted research into the London 2012 Olympics and the impact of anti-trafficking campaigns. Naomi then continued her education at The University of Nottingham where she received an LLM in Human Rights Law in 2013. Her dissertation for the LLM explored the legal definitions of slavery, human trafficking and modern slavery within England and Wales. After completing her LLM, Naomi was awarded a scholarship from the Economic and Social Research Council to study for an MA in Socio-Legal and Criminological Research. Her dissertation for the MA explored Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, examining the definition of the right to play.
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Research Experience:
Naomi is currently an ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford. Her project, 'Advancing the Development and Application of the Right to Play' will involve bringing together key stakeholders and academics working on areas across children's rights to explore how the right to play can be better realised. Naomi is also Visiting Fellow at the Rights Lab, University of Nottingham, where her ILO and IOM funded project examines the intersections between the fields of modern slavery and children's rights.
Naomi has worked with the Rights Lab on a number of projects previously (2020-21), investigating issues related to survivor support, the impact of Covid-19 on forced marriage in the UK, and government responses to modern slavery. She has also worked with the Human Rights Law Centre, University of Nottingham as Module Convenor/Assessor for a number of modules on the International Human Rights Law Distance Learning Course. Naomi completed a Research Associate position (2020) in a joint project with the Rights Lab and United Nations University, researching and coding existing literature for an evidence review on national laws and policies addressing modern slavery. Naomi has completed a Visiting Lecturer post at the University of Oxford (2019-2020), lecturing on child rights theory and international children's rights at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Naomi was appointed Post-Doctoral Research Associate on the ERC project 'FORTITUDE' at the University of Leicester, to develop the theoretical framework for the project from a child rights perspective (2019). From 2017-2019 Naomi was employed as a Research Associate with the Rights Lab to assist in data gathering on government response for the 2018 Global Slavery Index and the 2019 Measurement, Action, Freedom Report. This was in partnership with the Walk Free Foundation. Naomi is also an Editorial Assistant for the Human Rights Law Review. In 2013, Naomi completed the Rights of the Child summer school at the Human Rights Law Centre, University of Nottingham. In 2011, Naomi worked as a Policy Intern for Christian Action Research and Education.
Publications, Conferences & Engagement
Power of Play
April 2021, University of Birmingham
Naomi presented on 'The Right to Play and Education: A Marriage Made in Heaven?' at the UoB CCN Conference 'Power of Play'.
This presentation drew out findings from her research on the drafting history of the 1959 Declaration on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Child, examining the drafters intentions for the right to play and its relationship with education. Her paper argued that the right to play should be separated from education in Concluding Observations.
Reaction to General Comment 25 on Children's Rights in Relation to the Digital Environment (Blog)
March 2021, Child Rights ECR Network Blog
Naomi's blog post shared her response to the Committee on the Right's of the Child's General Comment 25 on children's rights in relation to the digital environment.
Naomi offered a critique on its guidance regarding the right to play.
What Works to End Modern Slavery? Justice Report
December 2020
Naomi's co-authored report 'What works to end modern slavery? A review of evidence on policy and interventions in the context of justice' shares the research findings from a systematic evidence review examining effective policies to address SDG 8.7.
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The research found that 'effective measures to address modern slavery in the context of justice demand serious consideration be given to the way in which interventions are delivered, and not only to what measures are adopted. Commitment to evidence-based, victimcentred antislavery efforts requires reflection and dedication to ensuring that policy is translated into practice, and that this practice produces positive outcomes for those experiencing, or vulnerable to, exploitation.'
The Right to the Continuous Improvement of Living Conditions through the Lens of Other Forgotten Rights
Forthcoming
Naomi's chapter 'The Right to the Continuous Improvement of Living Conditions through the Lens of Other Forgotten Rights' emerged from her engagement at a 2020 Oñati Workshop.
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Her chapter argues for a need to move beyond a focus on a limited set 'minimum' rights and to look broader at what is necessary for human dignity.
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Her chapter will appear in a forthcoming collection published with Hart (2021).
Article 31 on the 31st Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
November 2020, Child Rights ECR Network Blog
Naomi's blog post shares key findings from her PhD research relating to the implementation of the right to play.
Her blog argues that '[i]n order to realise the right to play, three factors are vital for implementation of the right: time, space and acceptance'.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Implementation Project
July 2019, University of Cambridge
Naomi presented her research at the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Implementation Project 'Children’s Rights: Families, Guidance and Evolving Capacities'.
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The event was attended by members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, child rights advocates, and esteemed child rights academics.
Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) Conference
2019, University of Leeds
Naomi presented her paper 'Establishing the Right to Play as an Economic, a Social and a Cultural Right'.Â
Her paper explores the nature of the child’s right to play and how it fits within the framework of ESCRs. It addresses the value of presenting the right to play within these categories and the opportunity this presents for utilising ESCR mechanisms when understanding the obligations and measures of implementation of the right to play.
ESRAN-UKI Workshop
2018, University College London
Naomi presented her working paper 'Understanding the Right to Play as an Economic and Social Right'.
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Her paper examined the unique aspects of economic and social rights and the ways in which the right to play fits within these categories of rights. It reflects on the implications this has for implementing and enforcing the right to play.
Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) Graduate Conference
2018, Queen Mary University of London
Naomi presented her paper 'The child’s right to play in troubled times'.
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Her paper explored the challenges of encouraging implementation of the right to play in troubled times, drawing on examples from empirical research conducted as part of her PhD studies.
Human Rights Research Students Conference
2016, School of Advanced Study, University of London
Naomi presented her paper 'The Importance of Play'.
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Her paper focused on the importance of the right to play for children and the need to challenge its perception as a luxury right.
4th Child Rights Research Symposium
2016, University of Leiden
Naomi presented her paper 'The Right to Play'.
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Her paper focused on the importance of the right to play for children, and the challenges facing the realisation of the right to play.