The award recognises Namitasha’s ‘outstanding contribution, scholarship and leadership in the field of law’, as well as their work in advancing legal education, research and justice while promoting Caribbean excellence on a global stage.
The recognition reflects Namitasha’s wider academic research and advocacy, including work exploring citizenship, belonging and justice in the UK.
In 2020, Namitasha co-authored an article entitled, ‘The Windrush Scandal: A Review of Citizenship, Belonging and Justice in the United Kingdom’, published in the European Journal of Law Reform. The article examined the experiences of the Windrush generation and highlighted that the UK Human Rights Act 1998 does not contain a provision guaranteeing the right to citizenship in the UK.
The article also called for the robust apology recommended in Wendy Williams’ Lessons Learned report to be enshrined in the preamble to the Human Rights Act, drawing comparisons with countries such as South Africa and the formal acknowledgement of past mistreatment within its constitutional framework.
Namitasha is campaigning for a Breast Flattening Bill for England and Wales, seeking to proscribe the practice of breast flattening. The practice involves flattening the breasts of pubescent girls to make them less attractive to the opposite sex, with the intention of preventing pregnancy and enabling girls to remain in education.
Namitasha is continuing their research in this area with colleague Megan Johnson. Their forthcoming article, ‘Beyond ‘So-Called Honour-Based Abuse’: A Breast Flattening Bill for England and Wales’, will explore the issue further.
Beyond research and advocacy, Namitasha is active on LinkedIn, where they champion causes they are passionate about and regularly share their work and experiences with students.
The Global Legal Academic Excellence Award recognises Namitasha’s commitment to combining scholarship, advocacy, leadership and student engagement, using legal research and education to contribute to conversations around justice and equality.