Essex students published by renowned international magazine after cross-department collaboration

Three University of Essex students have co-authored a major new report for leading free expression organisation Index on Censorship, following a collaboration between the University's Human Rights Centre Clinic and Journalism department.

LLM International Human Rights Law students Adil Zawahir and Kulsoom Rizvi, alongside Law PhD student Alexandra C Panait, co-authored the report examining how governments are increasingly using travel bans as a tool to silence dissent. The publication was made possible through a partnership between the Human Rights Clinic Centre and Essex Journalism, giving students the opportunity to produce work for an internationally respected publication while exploring one of the most pressing issues affecting human rights today.

The students’ research explores how restrictions on international travel are being used against journalists, activists, academics and human rights defenders, limiting their ability to share evidence, attend international forums, build networks and challenge governments beyond their borders. The report highlights how travel bans can operate as a form of transnational repression, creating fear and isolation while restricting freedom of movement and civic participation.

The students researched and wrote the report as part of a collaboration between the Human Rights Centre Clinic and Essex Journalism, supported by Martin Bright, Director of Journalism at Essex and Contributing Editor at Index on Censorship.

The project gave them the opportunity to combine legal research with professional journalism and produce work for an internationally respected publication.

Martin Bright said: "This important report is a tribute to the commitment of students at the Human Rights Clinic. It will be of immense use to those working in the field of free expression.

"The collaboration with Index on Censorship has proved highly productive and will continue into the new academic year. This project has also helped forge ever closer ties between Essex Journalism and those working on human rights in the School of Law."

Dr Sabina Garahan, Director of the Essex Human Rights Centre Clinic, said: “We are immensely proud of our Clinic students for their direct and meaningful contribution to the work of Index on Censorship. We are also delighted to have partnered with Martin Bright and the Journalism department on this project. The published report is testament to the benefits of taking a multidisciplinary approach in addressing human rights challenges.”

The collaboration demonstrates Essex's commitment to giving students opportunities to apply their expertise beyond the classroom, work alongside academics and professionals, and contribute to international debates on human rights and freedom of expression.

Read the report here.