Search
photo of Mauro Barelli

Professor Mauro Barelli

Professor of International Law

The City Law School Academic law programmes

Contact details

About

Overview

Professor Barelli’s teaching and research centre on public international law, spanning international human rights, international dispute settlement, State responsibility and collective security. He holds an LLB from the University of Milan, an LLM from the University of Bristol and a PhD from the University of Cardiff. At City, he teaches Advanced Issues of International Law and International Human Rights Law to undergraduates and runs a course on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights for master’s students. He has produced influential work on indigenous peoples’ rights and has developed extensive research on China’s practice in international law. He has also written on other areas of international law, including States' engagement with the ICJ, strategic litigation and the intersection of human rights and intellectual property rights. His expertise has been sought by governments, parliaments and international NGOs. He has held visiting positions at various institutions, including the University of Cambridge, Nanjing University, the University of Iceland and the University of Trento. Prof Barelli is an experienced PhD supervisor and has held a variety of leadership roles, including PhD Programme Director and Assistant Dean Research.

Qualifications

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, City, University of London
  • PhD, Cardiff University, United Kingdom
  • LLM, University of Bristol, UK
  • LLB, University of Milan - Bicocca, Italy

Employment

  • Professor, City, University of London, United Kingdom, August 2024 - present
  • Reader, City, University London, United Kingdom, August 2020 - July 2024
  • Senior Lecturer, City, University of London, UK, August 2013 - July 2020
  • Lecturer, City, University of London, United Kingdom, September 2009 - July 2013
  • Teaching Associate, Cardiff University, United Kingdom, 2007 - 2009

Memberships of professional organisations

  • Higher Education Academy
  • European China Law Studies Association – 欧洲中国法研究协会

Research students

1stsupervisor

  • Simone Mamini, Research Student
  • Sahar Sadoughi, Research Student

2ndsupervisor

Publications

Publications by category

Books (4)

  • Barelli, M. Seeking Justice in International Law: the Significance and Implications of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Routledge, 2016). ISBN 9781138613874.
  • Barelli, M. China in the Collective Security System: Values, Practice and Normative Power. (forthcoming, Hart).
  • Barelli, M. and Zhang, T. (Eds.), Chinese Law in A Global Context. Hart (forthcoming).
  • Barelli, M., Guliyeva, G., Errico, S. and Pentassuglia, G. Minority Groups and Litigation, Minority Rights Group Guide Series (MRG International, 2011). ISBN 9781907919176.

Chapters (6)

  • Barelli, M., Bonadio, E. and Dine, C. (2025). Breeders’ and Farmers’ Rights: Navigating the Tension Between UPOV and UNDROP. In Graham, R., Alex, M. and Tesh, D. (Eds.), IP's Futures University of Ottawa Press.
  • Barelli, M. (2018). Free, Prior and Informed Consent in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In Weller, M. and Hohmann, J. (Eds.), Oxford Commentaries on International Law: A Commentary on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples OUP. ISBN 9780199673223.
  • Barelli, M. (2016). Development projects and indigenous peoples' land: Defining the scope of free, prior and informed consent. In Lennox, C. and Short, D. (Eds.), Handbook of Indigenous Peoples' Rights Routledge. ISBN 9781136313851.
  • Barelli, M. (2015). The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: a Human Rights Framework for Intellectual Property Rights. In Rimmer, M. (Ed.), Indigenous Intellectual Property: A Handbook of Contemporary Research, Edward Elgar.
  • Barelli, M. and Guliyeva, G. (2011). The Right to Political Participation. Minority Groups and Litigation: A Review of Developments in International and Regional Jurisprudence London: Minority Rights Group International. ISBN 9781907919176.
  • Barelli, M. (2011). Land Rights. Minority Groups and Litigation: A Review of Developments in International and Regional Jurisprudence London: Minority Rights Group International. ISBN 9781907919176.

Internet publications (4)

  • Al-Qasem, A. and Barelli, M.(2023).The Voice and the Right of Indigenous Peoples to Effective Participation. City Law Forum.
  • Barelli, M.(2020).Two opposing commitments? Towards a synchronised protection of biodiversity and indigenous peoples’ rights.
  • Barelli, M.(2019).Why Aung San Suu Kyi is in The Hague Defending Myanmar against Allegations of Genocide? The Conversation.
  • Barelli, M.Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v. Kenya, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, UK Network on Minority Groups and Human Rights’ Newsletter, 2010.

Journal articles (8)

Other

  • Barelli, M., Choo, A., Doak, J., Field, S., Jackson, J. and Nelken, D.(2018). In Memoriam.

    [SAGE Publications]

Professional activities

Events/conferences (22)

  • 17th Annual Conference of the European China Law Studies Association. (2023).
    Paper: The Role of Sanctions in China's Model of Collective Security
  • Future of the Global IP System. The University of British Columbia (2023).
    Paper: Farmers’ Right to Seeds Vancouver (with
    Co-authors: E. Bonadio and C. Dine
  • Liverpool John Moores University. (2023).
    Paper: Indigenous Peoples, Consultation and Democracy
  • 16th Annual Conference of the European China Law Studies Association. (2022).
    Paper: China and the International Court of Justice
  • Implementing R2P through Peacekeeping: Chinese Perspectives. University of Ljubljana and Edge Hill University (2021).
    Description: Responsibility to Protect in Theory and Practice Conference
  • China and Humanitarian Crises: an International Law Perspective. Centre for Comparative and Public Law, Hong Kong University (2019).
    Author: Mauro Barelli
  • China and the Responsibility to Protect. University of Maastricht (2017).
  • The Implications of Brexit: an International Law Perspective. University of Nanjing (2017).
  • Conflict, Indigenous Peoples and Natural Resources: New International Law Perspectives. University of Trento (2017).
  • Ethno-cultural groups and international law-making: the identity and action of the indigenous movement. University of Lancaster (2016).
  • The Global Indigenous Movement and International Law-Making. University of Brighton (2016).
    Description: Social Movements and Protest: Future Challenges for Research and Practice (Conference)
  • The Responsibility to Protect in International Law: Reality or Fantasy? University of Nanjing (2016).
  • Seeking Justice in International Law: the Significance and Implications of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. University of Iceland (2016).
  • Justice in International Law: the Legal, Political and Moral Dimensions of Indigenous Peoples' Rights. University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Canada) (2014).
  • Indigenous Peoples and the Dynamics of International Law. International Law and Affairs Group, City University London (2014).
  • Indigenous Peoples, Justice, and International Law. Visiting Fellows' Seminar Series, Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, Cambridge University, (2013).
  • Indigenous Access to Justice and the Roles of International, Statutory, Common, and Customary Law, The Commonwealth’s First Nations: Rights, Status and Struggles in the run up to the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London University (2013).
  • Expert Workshop on Current Challenges Facing Indigenous Peoples - Lands, Resources and Extractive Industry. Human Rights Consortium, School of Advanced Study, University of London (2013).
  • Understanding the Indigenous Right to Self-determination. International Law and Affair Group Research Seminar, The City Law School, City University London (2011).
  • The Just Accommodation of Indigenous Peoples Rights under International Law, Workshop on Minorities, Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights: International and Comparative Perspectives, Liverpool University (2009).
  • The Value of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Effectiveness of the Indigenous Rights Regime, SLSA Annual Conference, University of Leicester (2009).
  • International Law, Global Justice and the Emerging Regime of Indigenous Rights, First International Conference on Cordillera Studies: Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities in Transition. University of the Philippines-Baguio, Baguio City, Philippines (2008).

Other

  • 2005-2006 Counsel for the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Case Concerning the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Bosnia-Herzegovina v. Serbia, International Court of Justice .