Dr Domenico Carolei

I am a lecturer in Public International Law and Public Law at the University of Stirling, holding a PhD from the University of Aberdeen, where my research was sponsored by the Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society, and Rule of Law (CISRUL). I am also a qualified solicitor in Italy (non-practising) and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

My academic work is deeply rooted in the study of human rights and the accountability of both public and private organisations, with a specific focus on NGOs. My book, "NGOs and the Law: Self-regulation and Accountability" (Routledge, 2023), is a key output of my research in this area. My work has been published in leading journals such as the Leiden Journal of International Law and the Human Rights Law Review, and it has been recognized by influential platforms, including Forbes and OpenDemocracy.

The impact of my research extends into the policy realm. In April 2024, I had the opportunity to present my findings to the European Parliament, contributing to discussions on the regulation of EU-funded NGOs. My proposal to apply corporate business and human rights frameworks to NGOs was cited in the EU Parliament Report “Transparency and Accountability of EU Funding for NGOs Active in EU Policy Areas within EU Territory” (2023) and Amnesty International's report “On My Campus, I Am Afraid - China’s Targeting of Overseas Students Stifles Rights” (2024).

I serve as a trustee for Global Minorities Alliance, a Scottish charity dedicated to advocating for minority rights globally. I have also provided training for humanitarian personnel working in refugee camps in Iraq and Lebanon, managed by the NGO 'Un Ponte Per…' My dedication to human rights and civil society has been recognized with the ‘Giovanni Carcea’ prize from Inner Wheel Italy.

I regularly present at international conferences and institutions, including the University of Maastricht (The Netherlands), the National Institute of Development Administration (Thailand), Copenhagen Business School (Denmark), and Goiás State University (Brazil). My contributions have been acknowledged with awards, including the 'Best Paper Award' for Early Career Researchers at the University of Worcester (UK) in 2021, during the international exhibition “Questions of Accountability: Prerogatives, Power, and Politics.”

My work is supported by research and impact grants from organizations such as the Society of Legal Scholars, the CB Davidson Fund, and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Stirling.

By integrating rigorous academic research with practical legal expertise and active engagement with civil society, I aim to make a lasting impact in the field of human rights.

AREAS OF RESEARCH

• NGO Law & Accountability
• Human Rights Law
• Civil Society Theory
• Self-Regulation

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND INVITED TALKS

• ‘Charting NGO Accountability: The Evolution of International Law Regulation’, Law and Globalisation Seminar Series 2023/24, Law School, University of Maastricht (The Netherlands), 12 June 2024 [invited].

• 'NGO Regulation and Accountability: normative proposals for the EU Parliament', European Union Parliament, Brussels (Belgium), 9 April 2024.

• 'NGOs: Evolution of international regulation and accountability' Online Charity Briefs Series, Charity Law and Policy Unit, School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool (UK), 30 November 2023 [invited].

• ‘NGOs and the Law: Self-Regulation and Accountability’, International Society for Third Sector (ISTR) Book Club. Respondents: Prof Oonagh Breen (university College Dublin, Ireland); Prof Angela Crack (University of Portsmouth, UK). Moderator: Mayumi Fuchi (University of Birmingham, UK),19 October 2023.

• ‘NGOs and the Law: Self-Regulation and Accountability’, book launch/research seminar, School of Law and Centre for Citizenship Civil Society and Rule of Law (CISRUL), University of Aberdeen (UK), 20 September 2023.

• ‘NGOs and the Law: Self-Regulation and Accountability’, online book launch, Multidisciplinary Programme in Human Rights, Federal University of Goiás (UFG, Brazil), State University of Goiás (UEG, Brazil), Respondent: Prof João da Cruz Gonçalves Neto (UFG, Brazil). Chair; Prof Ulisses Terto Neto (UEG, Brazil & UFG, Brazil), 1 September 2023 [invited].

• Speaker at the session ‘deploying rationality, reason, and risk management to support equality and human rights’, Festival of Research, University of Stirling, 23 May 2023.

• ‘Beyond corporations: the applicability of the OECD Guidelines to non-profits’, Workshop “Corporate Human Rights Responsibility in the OECD NCP Case Law Analysis”, Friedrich Alexander University-Erlangen Nuremberg (Germany), 4-5 May 2023 [invited].

• 'The exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute NGO workers for misconducts perpetrated overseas’ The Graduate School of Law National Institute of Development Administration (Bangkok, Thailand), 9 December 2022 [invited].

• 'The OECD norms on civil society: protecting civil space while making CSOs more accountable’ 15th International Conference International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR), Concordia University (Montreal, Canada), 12-15 July 2022.

• 'NGO Accountability in the eyes of the Law’ 15th International Conference International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR), Concordia University (Montreal, Canada), 12-15 July 2022.

• ‘An international ombudsman to make the NGO sector more accountable?’ International Exhibition - Questions of Accountability: Prerogatives, Power and Politics, University of Worcester (UK) 1-5 November 2021.

• ‘Human rights norms as a cause of Inter-organisational conflicts between NGOs’ Online Workshop on NGO-NGO Interactions in Global Politics - Centre for Global Cooperation Research (Germany) and The Elliott School (USA), 26 October 2020.

• ‘Applying Business and Human Rights Instruments to enact Non-Governmental Organizations Accountability for Human Rights’ International Society for Third-Sector Research Webinar Series 2020, 23 July 2020.

• ‘Accountability for Human Rights: Applying Business and Human Rights Instruments to Non-Governmental Organizations’ Global Business and Human Rights Scholars Association – 5th Annual Conference, University of Essex, 13 September 2019.

• ‘Is Self-Regulation an Effective Means of Accountability? The case of Roman Third-Sector and the Scandal “Mafia Capitale” – Panel: Donors, Communication and Accountability – 13th International Conference International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR), Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam (The Netherlands), 10 July 2018.

• ‘ONG e La Gestione dei Flussi Migratori’ [NGOs and Immigration Management], Association FiloRosso - Tessitori di Futuro, Bologna (Italy), 20 March 2018.

• ‘How accountable are Civil Society Organisations to their beneficiaries? A Multiple Case Study Analysis on Italy’, CISTAS [The Civil Society in the Shadow of the State] Research Group, Copenhagen Business School (Denmark), 6 March 2018.

• ‘Survival International Vs WWF: can the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises be used as a means of accountability against NGOs?’ Society of Legal Scholars 2017, PhD Conference, ‘The Diverse Unities of Law’ - Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin (Ireland), 4 September 2017.

• ‘Italy and the Introduction of Crime of Torture: A Story of Impunity and Normative Gaps’, Historical Perspectives - Seminar Series 2016-17, University of Glasgow, 18 January 2017.

• ‘Accountability of Civil Society Organisations: towards a Beneficiaries-Orientated Approach in Self-Regulation’, Strathclyde Postgraduate Law Conference ‘Visualizing the Law’, University of Strathclyde, 26-28 October 2016.

• ‘Straightening Accountability of Civil Society Organisations through Self-Regulation: A Focus on Italy’, Association for the Study of Modern Italy - Postgraduate Summer School, University of Bristol, 23- 24 June 2016.

• ‘Police Violence and Radical Protest: The case of the 27th G8 Summit (Genoa, 2001) - A Story of Torture and Impunity’- Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law, PhD Summer School ‘Radical Protest in Constitutional Democracy’, University of Aberdeen, 8-9 June 2016.

• ‘Sull’introduzione del reato di tortura: punti deboli e spunti di modifica dell’Art. 613-bis c.p. (Proposta di Legge C.2168)’ - The Crime of Torture between International Law and Italian Criminal Law, Palazzo Malvezzi – School of Law, University of Bologna, 5 April 2016.

• “Night will fall” Commemoration of the Holocaust 2016, Belmont Film House, Aberdeen City Council & Grampian Regional Equality Council, 26 January 2016.

At the University of Stirling, I lead and teach the LLB modules in Public Law and Legal Systems, International Human Rights Law, and Public International Law.