Dr Domenico Carolei

Domenico is a lecturer in Public International Law and Public Law at the University of Stirling (UK), where he is the module coordinator of the LLB courses in Public Law and Legal Systems, and in International Human Rights Law.

He holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen (UK) sponsored by the Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law (CISRUL). Before beginning his PhD research, Domenico qualified as a solicitor in Italy training in the area of criminal law. He is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

The bulk of Domenico's research focuses on the regulation and the accountability of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). His book "NGOs and the Law: Self-regulation and Accountability" was published by Routledge in May 2023. Domenico’s works have been published by leading peer-reviewed journals including the Leiden Journal of International Law (Cambridge University Press), the Human Rights Law Review (Oxford University Press), Nonprofit Policy Forum (De Gruyter), Journal of Human Rights Practice (Oxford University Press), and International Criminal Law Review (Brill). Domenico's work has also featured in Forbes (2020) and OpenDemocracy (2019).

Domenico presented his research at international events organised and hosted by the Graduate School of Law, National Institute of Development Administration (Thailand, December 2022), the Centre for Global Cooperation Research (Germany, October 2020), Copenhagen Business School (Denmark, March 2018), Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam (The Netherlands, July 2018), The University of Bologna (Italy, March 2018) and University College Dublin (Ireland, September 2017). He also served as a member of the Conference Academic Committee for the 15th International Society of Third-Sector Research (ISTR) Conference at Concordia University (Canada, July 2022). Domenico received the 'Best Paper Award', Early Career Researcher, sponsored by Routledge, at International Exhibition - Questions of Accountability: Prerogatives, Power and Politics, University of Worcester (UK November 2021).

Domenico has advised several NGOs including the Danube Civil Society Forum, a Serbian-based NGO campaigning for environmental protection. He is a trustee of Global Minorities Alliance, a Scottish-based charity campaigning for minority rights worldwide, and has trained humanitarian personnel working in refugee camps in Iraq and Lebanon managed by the Italian-based NGO “Un Ponte Per…”

AREAS OF RESEARCH

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

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND INVITED TALKS

• ‘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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.