Dr. Nathan Derejko

Dr. Nathan Derejko is the Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice and Assistant Professor of Law at Robson Hall. Previously, Nathan was the Director of the Human Rights Centre Clinic at the University of Essex, Director of the Masters in Human Rights programme at University College London, a visiting lecturer at the International Institute of International Humanitarian Law in Sanremo Italy, and a doctoral research fellow at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland Galway.  

Nathan’s research and teaching interests span three interrelated fields of international law: international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and collective security and the use of force (jus ad bellum). He has a particular interest in the applicability and application of human rights during armed conflict, counter-terrorism and human rights, climate change and human rights, and the law and practice of non-international armed conflict. Nathan’s research has been widely cited both within and beyond academia, including by the United Nations Development Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the New York City Bar Association, and has been covered by various media outlets, including BBC Radio and Al-Jazeera English. Nathan also has a keen interest in the philosophy of teaching and learning both within and beyond the classroom, and is committed to bridging the theory and practice of human rights to provide students with both the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective human rights practitioners

Nathan remains actively engaged outside of academia, and has previously worked with a number of human rights and humanitarian organizations in Canada, Europe, East Africa and the Middle East, and continues to support various strategic litigation efforts, provide advanced training in international human rights and humanitarian law for military personnel and government agencies, and serves as an expert member for various NGO committees. Nathan currently sits on the Advisory Council of Defend Digital, an NGO focused on children’s rights to privacy and family life. This external engagement outside academia enables Nathan to remain at the forefront of practice and debate in the areas of his research, and translates into practice-informed teaching in the classroom. 

Nathan has a PhD in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom, an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the National University of Ireland Galway, and a BA in Political Science from Dalhousie University in Canada.

• “Dr. Derejko truly cares about his students” 
• “Dr Derejko engaged me as an individual and allowed me to step out of my academic comfort  zone. He was completely involved with the students and made me feel worthy of being in the class.”
• “Nathan peaked my interest in the content. He is a wonderful and engaging professor with so much to offer. I would take another module with him any day- no matter the content.”
• "Nathan’s seminars are very engaging and challenging - the mock debates/judgements were a  good way to structure the discussion and engage students.” 
• “Nathan is brilliant- he transformed my understanding of law in war and international  relations. If it wasn't for Nathan I would have less interest in this topic and most likely would not have attended the lectures.”

• Canadian Centennial Scholarship Award (2015 -2016).
• Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust Doctoral Grant (2015).
• University of Essex Wivenhoe Bursary (2015).
• University of Essex early career Excellence in Teaching Award  (2014).  
• Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (Since 2014).
• Research Grant, $10,000.00 USD, Foundation Open Society Institute. Essex Human Rights Clinic  research project on national surveillance and international human rights law (Dec. 2013).
• Research Grant, $8,000.00 USD, Foundation Open Society Institute. Essex Human Rights Clinic research project on commissions of inquiry and international human rights law (Dec. 2012).