Samantha Holmes

Samantha joined the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) in September 2023 as the Generating Respect Hub Coordinator and Research Associate. The Hub focuses on enhancing norms compliance in armed conflict through innovative socio-legal research. She is also a Researcher for the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict – a network that strives to end rights violations against children in war zones.

Samantha completed her LLM in International Human Rights Law and Practice at the University of York in 2023 and she also holds an LLB from Queen Mary University of London. Prior to joining CAHR, Samantha conducted human rights practice for organisations in Southeast Asia. She was the Asia Advocacy and Communications Officer for ARTICLE 19 (2021 - 2022) and a Legal Consultant for the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (2019 - 2021). Samantha also provides consulting services to local and international non-governmental organisations on the human rights situation in Cambodia, specialising in advocacy through engagement with UN mechanisms.

Samantha was awarded the CAHR Scholarship 2022/23 and during her studies was a recipient of the Sam Pegram Human Rights Placement Award for commitment to reflexive human rights practice and centering the voices of those involved. Her completed research projects include qualitative and quantitative legal research into fundamental freedoms compliance in Cambodia, group research into the realisation of disabled people’s rights and the prevention of terrorism in York, and independent research into strategic lawsuits against public participation and lawfare in Cambodia. She has also been published in The Diplomat and the Southeast Asia Globe.