Making women human:uncovering the contribution of women to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

This book offers both a historical and critical account of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the work leading up to this at the creation of the United Nations (UN). The book sets out its position in the literature as a counter narrative to earlier research, which it notes has ‘generally emphasised the contribution of the Western and male delegates who participated in the process’ (p. 1). It therefore offers a fresh account of the birth of the modern international human rights regime, focussing on the substantial contributions of the women delegates who contributed to the final text of the United Nations Charter and the UDHR. It charts the strategies and ideologies of the various women who were successful in ensuring the declaration reflected the language of ‘human rights rather than the rights of man’ (p. 2). In doing so, this book adds further understanding and insight into the birth of the United Nations’ human rights mechanisms

Reading narratives of privilege and paternalism:the limited utility of Human Rights Law on the Journey to Reform Northern Irish Abortion Law

This article argues that a gendered conceptualisation of rights means that an invisible barrier had to be surmounted when attempting to frame denial of access to abortion in Northern Ireland as a human rights violation. It considers the Supreme Court decisions of In the matter of an application by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland) and R (on the application of A and B) v Secretary of State for Health; examines what they reveal about the potentiality of human rights law to advance women’s rights; and analyses the limited success of human rights litigation in securing reproductive rights for Northern Irish women. It posits that the reason for this is the continued framing of abortion in the United Kingdom as a paternalistic privilege permitted to women only in limited scenarios and locations. It demonstrates how courts implicitly endorse this framing and consequently exclude women’s victimhood from the human rights framework

Book Review - Susan Harris Rimmer and Kate Ogg (eds.):Research handbook on feminist engagement with international law

The editors of this ambitious handbook have successfully curated a collection of papers that seek to highlight the relevance and usefulness of feminism in international law. This collection showcases the breadth and depth of recent feminist engagements with international law, and as such seeks to position feminist approaches as both a tool and method of excavation within critical international legal scholarship. However, rather than merely offering a critique and summary of current and historical feminist legal scholarship, this collection provides a roadmap for using feminist legal methodologies to both engage in critiques of, and contribute alternative means of conceptualising, a whole host of international law disciplines as well as interdisciplinary legal issues

Law’s invisible women:the unintended gendered consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown

This article examines the unintended gendered consequences of lockdown on women’s rights, particularly those related to women’s work, health and wellbeing. Situating this assessment within wider feminist legal scholarship, which exposes the gendered nature of law and the tendency to legislate in a way that prioritises a privileged male legal subject, we argue that legislation and subsequent decisions fail to centre women’s lived experiences and so deprioritise women’s needs. We ultimately argue that lessons need to be learned regarding how post-pandemic responses are implemented to mitigate the impacts on women and ensure gender is mainstreamed within the law-making process

International law as shibboleth : the continued appeal of heroic narratives in support of military intervention

Political debates on the use of force draw on Manichean narratives which are legitimated by legalistic language. Overreliance on such narratives devalues international law as a safeguard against the illegal use of force, silences criticism that militarism is not the solution to international crises, and blurs legal and non-legal justifications for intervention

Weaponising human rights through empty rhetoric and imperialist narratives : British discourse on reproductive rights and gender equality

Lynsey Mitchell explores how feminist legal work in the UK highlights global gender equality efforts through saviour narratives, yet overlooks domestic racism and patriarchy. The author critiques the securitisation of feminist discourse post-9/11, revealing its reliance on colonial hierarchies and promotion of a progressive narrative centered on first world societies

Full Gait Cycle Analysis of Lower Limb and Trunk Kinematics During Walking in Participants with and without Ankle Instability

Background: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) has previously been linked to altered lower limb kinematics and muscle activation characteristics during walking, though little research has been performed analysing the full time-series across the stance and swing phases of gait. Research Question: The aim of this study was to compare trunk and lower limb kinematics and muscle activity between those with chronic ankle instability and healthy controls. Methods: Kinematics and muscle activity were measured in 18 (14 males, 4 females) healthy controls (age 22.4 ± 3.6 years, height 177.8 ± 7.6 cm, mass 70.4 ± 11.9 kg, UK shoe size 8.4 ± 1.6), and 18 (13 males, 5 females) participants with chronic ankle instability (age 22.0 ± 2.7 years, height 176.8 ± 7.9 cm, mass 74.1 ± 9.6 kg, UK shoe size 8.1 ± 1.9) during barefoot walking trials, using a combined Helen Hayes and Oxford foot model. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded for the tibialis anterior and gluteus medius. Full curve statistical parametric mapping was performed using independent and paired-samples T-tests. Results: No significant differences were observed in kinematic or sEMG variables between or within groups for the duration of the swing phase of gait. A significantly increased forefoot-tibia inversion was seen in the CAI affected limb when compared to the CAI unaffected limb at 4-16% stance (p = 0.039). No other significant differences were observed. Significance: There appears to be no differences in muscle activation and movement between CAI and healthy control groups. However, participants with CAI exhibited increased inversion patterns during the stance phase of gait in their affected limb compared to their unaffected limb. This may predispose those with CAI to episodes of giving way and further ankle sprains

Survey of research attitudes of RTT working in Scotland: a Scottish radiographer research forum collaboration

Purpose: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is associated with improved treatment outcomes and survival in cancer patients. Engagement from therapeutic radiographers/radiation therapists (RTTs) in research, has been identified as a challenge. The aim of this survey was to gain an understanding of RTT attitudes to research in Scotland. Methods: This was a prospective study that used a mixed method cross-sectional survey, with an online survey tool (Webropol). The survey was developed with collaborators from all Scottish Radiotherapy Centres (n = 5) and piloted by 6 conveniently sampled RTT and validated by 8 experienced RTTs. The survey comprised 29 items, 7 selection-based demographic questions, and 18 statements with a Likert 5-point metric scale rating (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree). The validity was measured with the content validity index (CVI) and item-CVI by 8 experienced RTTs. Low scoring I-CVI (<0.78) questions were removed. A total of 314 RTTs working in Scottish Radiotherapy Centres were invited to participate. Approvals were given by each Head of department (HoD), who also confirmed number of RTTs. Results: A total of 102/314 (32.5 %) RTTs responded. The majority of RTTs agreed they were confident they had sufficient research skills to inform EBP (n = 58/102, 56.9 %), felt confident discussing EBP with colleagues (n = 67, 65.7 %) and felt research was important for role development (n = 89, 87.2 %). Low mean scores and standard deviation (SD) were observed for the following: “I know how to get involved in research” 3.2 (1.2), “I have been given the opportunity to get involved in research” 3.2 (1.1), and “I am well informed about current research projects in my department” 3.2 (1.1). 57.8 % (n = 59) of RTTs disagreed they were confident adequate time would be provided to be involved in research. Conclusion: The survey results demonstrated a predominantly positive attitude to research amongst RTTs working in Scottish centres, with most common perceived barriers being access to protected time and staff; training, and support

One-year outcomes after low-dose intracoronary alteplase during primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The T-TIME randomized trial

No abstract available

The SH3 domain of postsynaptic density 95 mediates inflammatory pain through phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase recruitment

Sensitization to inflammatory pain is a pathological form of neuronal plasticity that is poorly understood and treated. Here we examine the role of the SH3 domain of postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) by using mice that carry a single amino-acid substitution in the polyproline-binding site. Testing multiple forms of plasticity we found sensitization to inflammation was specifically attenuated. The inflammatory response required recruitment of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-C2α to the SH3-binding site of PSD95. In wild-type mice, wortmannin or peptide competition attenuated the sensitization. These results show that different types of behavioural plasticity are mediated by specific domains of PSD95 and suggest novel therapeutic avenues for reducing inflammatory pain