Prof. O'Flaherty to be recipient of the Vice-Chancellor's Achievement Award

Prof. Michael O’Flaherty, Professor of Applied Human Rights in the School of Law and Co-Director of the Human Rights Law Centre, is one of this year’s recipients of The University of Nottingham Vice-Chancellor’s Achievement Award in recognition of his work on the Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Prof. O’Flaherty led the development of the original text and was responsible for capturing the views of 29 experts in a single agreed outcome document. The experts came from 25 countries and included leading human rights officials of the United Nations, judges, academics and activists.

The Yogyakarta Principles constitute the first ever ‘mapping’ of human rights violations experienced by people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. They articulate the application of international human rights law to such experiences and spell out the nature of State obligations. The Yogyakarta Principles were launched in 2007 and since then have propelled a clearer, more unified description of the injustices faced by LGBT people and the ways in which these injustices violate human rights law. They have inspired confidence in advocacy in most regions of the world. Lawyers, judges, human rights commissioners, scholars, practitioners, and governments are using the Yogyakarta Principles as a guide to interpret State responsibility under human rights law. They have been adopted as government policy in a number of countries.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Achievement Award was launched in 2010 to recognise exceptional achievement by staff or students at The University of Nottingham. Only a small number of awards are allocated each year and recipients who are nominated by other staff must have demonstrated:

Exceptional achievement in any arena.

• Notable endeavour which has made a difference to the University.
• A substantive contribution which has enhanced the reputation of the University.
• Activity which has had a noticeably positive impact for students, staff or the local community. 
• An individual achievement or sustained achievement over a period of time.

Vice-Chancellor’s Achievement Awards are presented with a distinctive medal and certificate at a special University event during the academic year.