Professor Melanie Klinkner
- Professor of International Law
- Weymouth House W405, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
- Keywords:
- International law
- Socio-legal studies
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Biography
Dr Melanie Klinkner is an international law scholar and, together with Dr Ellie Smith, author of the Bournemouth Protocol on Mass Grave Protection and Investigation. Since October 2023 she is working on an 5 year-long, £1.6 million project to develop a comprehensive human rights framework for Mass Grave Protection, Investigation and Engagement (MaGPIE). She led an Arts and Humanities Research Council Research Leaders Fellowship for the creation of mass grave protection guidelines with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) as project partner. In addition, she was the Principal Investigator on a Global Challenges Research Fund project on how to humanise the process of mass grave protection and investigation from the representative perspective of victims’ families. She also led a Leverhulme funded project to explore the merit of open source mass grave mapping. Together with Dr Howard Davis she is author of the monograph ‘The Right to the Truth in International Law’ (published by Routledge, 2020)... During Trinity Term 2018 she was a Research Visitor at Oxford University's Bonavero Institute of Human Rights. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science and since February 2021 a member of the 'Panel of Experts on Missing Persons' for the ICMP. At Bournemouth University she teaches public international law, international criminal law and international human rights law.
moreFavourites
- Davis, H. and Klinkner, M., 2022. Investigating across borders: the right to the truth in an European context. International Journal of Human Rights, 26 (4), 683-700.
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2020. The Bournemouth Protocol on Mass Grave Protection and Investigation. https://issuu.com/bournemouthuniversity/docs/the_bournemouth_protocol_on_mass_grave_protection_. Available from: https://issuu.com/bournemouthuniversity/docs/the_bournemouth_protocol_on_mass_grave_protection_.
- Klinkner, M. and Davis, H., 2019. The Right to the Truth in International Law. Routledge.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDG:
Peace, justice and strong institutions
"Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels"
Journal Articles
- Klinkner, M., Smith, E. and Harris, R., 2024. Rights-informed mass grave mapping. International Journal of Law in Context.
- Klinkner, M., 2023. The Right to the Truth as an Enabler for Missing Persons Efforts. Journal of Human Rights Practice, 51 (1), 118-137.
- Klinkner, M., 2023. The Right to theTruth as an Enabler for Missing Persons Efforts. Journal of Human Rights Practice, 15 (1), 118-137.
- Davis, H. and Klinkner, M., 2022. Investigating across borders: the right to the truth in an European context. International Journal of Human Rights, 26 (4), 683-700.
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2021. From law to policy and practice – collaborative research amidst a pandemic: the creation of the Bournemouth Protocol on Mass Grave Protection and Investigation. Journal of Legal Research Methodology.
- Schwandner-Sievers, S. and Klinkner, M., 2019. Longing for lost normalcy: Social memory, transitional justice, and the ‘house museum’ to missing persons in Kosovo. Nationalities Papers, 47 (2), 232-247.
- Klinkner, M., 2018. Reasonable truth. International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics, 14 (3), 393-399.
- Klinkner, M., 2017. Towards Mass Grave Protection Guidelines. Human Remains and Violence.
- Klinkner, M., 2016. Karadžić's guilty verdict and forensic evidence from Bosnia's mass graves. Science and Justice, 56 (6), 498-504.
- Klinkner, M., 2015. Is all Fair in Love and War Crimes Trials? Regulation 55 and the Katanga Case. International Criminal Law Review, 15 (2), 396-410.
- Davis, H. and Klinkner, M., 2014. A right to truth, victims, and the ICC. Torture – Asian and Global Perspectives (Asian Human Rights Commission), 3 (3), 55-59.
- Klinkner, M., 2014. Mass Grave Investigations for International Criminal Proceedings. Torture - Asian and Global Perspectives, 3 (2), 50-55.
- Davis, H. and Klinkner, M., 2014. A Right to Truth, Victims, and the ICC. Torture, 3 (3), 56-59.
- Klinkner, M. and Wessling, R., 2013. The challenges for capacity building and subsequent impact assessment: the case of mass grave investigation training by Inforce at Bournemouth University. Science & Justice, 53, 442-444.
- Klinkner, M., 2012. Improving International Criminal Investigations into Mass Graves: Synthesizing Experiences from the Former Yugoslavia. Journal of Human Rights Practice, 4 (3), 334-364.
- Klinkner, M.J., 2012. Psycho-social aspects surrounding criminal investigations into mass graves. International Criminal Law Review, 12 (3), 409-426.
- Klinkner, M.J., 2009. Forensic science expertise for international criminal proceedings: an old problem, a new context and a pragmatic resolution. International Journal of Evidence and Proof, 13, 102-129.
- Klinkner, M.J., 2008. Proving Genocide? Forensic Expertise and the ICTY. Journal of International Criminal Justice, 6, 447-466.
- Klinkner, M.J., 2008. Forensic Science for Cambodian Justice. International Journal of Transitional Justice, 2, 227-243.
Books
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2023. Mass graves, truth and justice.
- Mass Graves, Truth and Justice Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Investigation of Mass Graves. Edward Elgar.
- Allen, S. et al., 2022. Fusion Learning Colloquium 2022 - Proceedings. Poole, UK: Bournemouth University.
- Klinkner, M. and Davis, H., 2019. The Right to the Truth in International Law. Routledge.
- Klinkner, M. and Davis, H., 2019. The Right to the Truth in International Law: Victims' Rights in Human Rights and International Criminal Law.
Chapters
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2023. Introduction: Mass Graves, Truth and Justice. Mass Graves, Truth and Justice. 1-22.
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2023. Conclusion and outlook on things to come. Mass Graves, Truth and Justice. 154-166.
- Smith, E. and Klinkner, M., 2023. Victims’ Rights to Participation and their Legitimate Information Interests. In: Borghi, M. and Brownsword, R., eds. Law, Regulation and Governance in the Information Society Informational Rights and Informational Wrongs. Routledge.
- Klinkner, M., 2023. Mass grave protection and missing persons. Anthropology of Violent Death: Theoretical Foundations for Forensic Humanitarian Action. 197-217.
- Smith, E. and Klinkner, M., 2023. Victims' rights to participation and their legitimate information interests. Law, Regulation and Governance in the Information Society Informational Rights and Informational Wrongs. Routledge.
- Klinkner, M., Smith, E. and Smith, E., 2023. Introduction. Mass Graves, Truth and Justice: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Mass Grave Investigation. Elgar.
- Klinkner, M. and Schwandner-Sievers, S., 2022. Transitional justice principles versus survivors’ experience – conflicting interpretations in Kosovo case study involving missing persons and their memorialisation. In: Rauschenbach, M., Viebach, J. and Parmentier, S., eds. Localising Memory: The Dynamics and Informal Practices of Memorialisation after Mass Violence and Dictatorship. Routledge.
- Hanson, I., Klinkner, M., Cheetham, P. and Mickleburgh, H.L., 2022. Mass Graves. Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences: Volume 1-4, Third Edition. 452-463.
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2022. Victims' Rights. In: Binder, C., Nowak, M., Hofbauer, J. and Janig, P., eds. Elgar Encyclopedia of Human Rights. Edward Elgar.
- Klinkner, M., 2021. The Development of Indicators on Missing Persons. Global Report on Missing Persons. International Commission on Missing Persons.
- Long, P. and Morpeth, N.D., 2016. Conclusions. Tourism and the Creative Industries: Theories, Policies and Practice. 177-185.
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2015. The Right to Truth, Appropriate Forum and the International Criminal Court. In: Szablewska, N. and Bachmann, S., eds. Current Issues in Transitional Justice. Towards a More Holistic Approach. Springer, 3-29.
- Klinkner, M., 2013. Scientific Evidence in International Criminal Trials. In: Weisburd, D., ed. Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Springer.
Conferences
- Klinkner, M. and Schwandner-Sievers, S., 2017. Grieving lost normalcy: a Kosovo case study of social memory, incomplete transitional justice and political agency. In: Sixth International Expert Seminar on Transitional Justice 25-26 September 2017 KU Leuven.
- Klinkner, M., Schwandner-Sievers, S., TIan, F. and Biran, A., 2015. Rethinking post-war reconciliation, memory and heritage via ‘gaming’ technology. In: BFX Academic Conference 2015 26-27 September 2015 Bournemouth, Bournemouth University.
- Klinkner, M., 2015. Ukraine and Russia: International (criminal) responses to hybrid war? In: International Criminal Trials: Historical Paradigms and Contemporary Dimensions 21 September 2015 Preston, University of Central Lancashire.
- Klinkner, M. and Davis, H., 2014. Institutionalising the right to the truth at the ICC. In: SLSA Conference 26-28 March 2013 York.
- Bray, M., 2014. Mass grave evidence before international criminal trials. In: Forensic Forum 2014 5 March 2014 London.
- Klinkner, M., 2012. Improving forensic investigations into mass graves for international criminal proceedings. In: European Academy of Forensic Science 20-24 August 2012 The Hague.
- Klinkner, M., 2011. The value of forensic evidence for international criminal proceedings. In: 2nd Biennial War Crimes Conference: Justice? Whose Justice? Punishment, Mediation or Reconciliation 3-5 March 2011 London.
- Klinkner, M., 2008. International Justice through Science: Investigating Human Rights Violations with or without Forensic Science? In: The 12th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Justice Research 14-17 August 2008 Adelaide.
- Klinkner, M., 2008. Proving Genocide – Cooperation between lawyers and forensic scientists under the ICTY. In: Seventh Biennial Meeting of the International Association of Genocide Scholars 9-13 July 2007 Sarajevo.
Reports
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2024. Rights-informed Mass Grave Mapping: a guide to the use of mapping tools. ISSUU. Available from: https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fissuu.com%2Fbournemouthuniversity%2Fdocs%2F12106_fmc_magmap_output_tools_a4_booklet_issu_v3.0&data=05%7C02%7Cefisher1%40bournemouth.ac.uk%7Ce5e81ba4e87e4630c50408dccbfa4d88%7Cede29655d09742e4bbb5f38d427fbfb8%7C0%7C0%7C638609523095157255%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gbL9VyG77rdwlTGaAKudvnpsGnwt8Dt1hstCDmcnkTU%3D&reserved=0.
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2021. Academic Commentary to the Bournemouth Protocol on Mass Grave Protection and Investigation. Bournemouth University. Available from: https://issuu.com/bournemouthuniversity/docs/11070_fmc_mass_graves_protocol_academic_commentary.
Internet Publications
- Klinkner, M., Smith, E. and Whittle, J., 2022. What Is a Mass Grave? Why Protect Mass Graves? How to Protect Mass Graves?. Available from: http://opiniojuris.org/2022/07/11/what-is-a-mass-grave-why-protect-mass-graves-how-to-protect-mass-graves/.
- Klinkner, M., 2021. The complexity of protecting, investigating and commemorating mass graves. Institute for Research and Public Policy. Available from: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/june-2021/the-complexity-of-protecting-investigating-and-commemorating-mass-graves/.
- Klinkner, M., 2021. Univesral Standards for Investigation of Mass Graves. European Journal of International Law Blog. Available from: https://www.ejiltalk.org/universal-standards-for-investigation-of-mass-graves/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ejil-talk-newsletter-post-title_2.
- Klinkner, M. and Smith, E., 2020. The Bournemouth Protocol on Mass Grave Protection and Investigation. https://issuu.com/bournemouthuniversity/docs/the_bournemouth_protocol_on_mass_grave_protection_. Available from: https://issuu.com/bournemouthuniversity/docs/the_bournemouth_protocol_on_mass_grave_protection_.
Theses
- Klinkner, M.J., 2009. Toward improved understanding and interaction between forensic science and international criminal law in the context of transitional justice. PhD Thesis. Bournemouth University; Business School.
Films
- Resolution, 2023. Film. Available from: https://youtu.be/w7Ihv70kDnM.
Posters
- Klinkner, M., Whittle, J., Nwagu, C., Garcia-Campo, N. and Biggins, D., 2022. Rapid Response Ukraine: Real-time Mass Grave Recording. In: 17th annual Social Simulation Conference.
- Klinkner, M., Biggins, D. et al., 2022. The Missing Persons Indicator Project. In: Fusion Learning Conference.
- Klinkner, M., Whittle, J., Biggins, D., Garcia-Campo, N. and Nwagu, C., 2022. Rapid response research: Real-time recording of mass graves in Ukraine. In: Fusion Learning Conference.
Others
- Davis, H. and Klinkner, M., 2014. A VICTIM’S RIGHT TO TRUTH AND THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) Summary Project Report. Bournemouth. Unpublished.
PhD Students
- Ellie Smith. The need for truth-telling as a part of the right to truth and its realisation at the ICC, (Completed)
- Luke Nwibo Eda. Missing Migrants, (Completed)
- Giulia Levi. Bridging post-Brexit Referendum Divides, (Completed)
- Joshua Rieser. British Foreign Policy: Britain’s Interpretation of International Law and Response to International Crisis, Ethnic Stratification & Genocide in Southeast Asia 1965-1980, (Completed)
- Diego Nunez. Assessing the impact of public policies on memory, (In progress)
- Anna Chartlon. UNEARTHING STOLEN RITES: UNDERSTANDING LEGAL, CULTURAL AND ETHICAL IGHTS SURROUNDING INDIGENOUS MASS GRAVES IN AUSTRALIA THROUGH PARTNERSHIP AND VISUAL ETHNOGRAPHIC METHODS, (In progress)
- Angelica Lujano Neiszer. Participatory Rights surrounding Mass Graves, (In progress)
- Emily Fisher. Women at the helm of missing persons/disappeared efforts, (In progress)
- Ahmed Abed. The rules, their application and effectiveness, governing humanitarian assistance in the context of the Syrian Conflict
Profile of Teaching PG
- Principles of International law, International Organisations and the WTO
- Dissertation Support and Research Methods
- International Criminal Law and International Criminal Justice
- International Human Rights Law
Profile of Teaching UG
- Advanced Criminal Law
Grants
- Missing Persons Indicator Development and Internships (Higher Education Innovation Fund, 01 May 2024). Completed
- The Missing Persons Indicator Project (International Commission on Missing Persons, 02 Nov 2023). In Progress
- MaGPIE: A comprehensive, universal human rights framework for Mass Grave Protection, Investigation & Engagement (ERC Consolidator Grant / guaranteed by UKRI Frontier Research, 02 Oct 2023). In Progress
- MaGMap: Does open source Mass Grave Mapping and Documenting protect or expose? (Leverhulme Trust, 01 Apr 2022). Completed
- It remains to be seen: animation of mass grave recovery (UKRI, 01 Apr 2020). Completed
- Protecting Mass Graves to advance Truth and Justice (Arts and Humanities Research Council, 25 Feb 2019). Completed
- Fusion co-creation project involving BU students and partners in Kosovo: rethinking post-war reconciliation via ‘gaming’ technology (Fusion Investment Fund, 01 Nov 2015). Completed
- Rethinking Reconciliation (European Union Academic Development Scheme, 01 Feb 2015). Completed
- A victim's right to truth and the International Criminal Court (Nuffield Foundation, 01 Sep 2013). Completed
- Cambodia Field Research - financial support (Harold Wyam Wingate Foundation, 01 Jan 2007). Completed
Qualifications
- PhD in Law (Bournemouth University, 2009)
- MA in Philosophy, Anthropology, Biology (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 2003)
Memberships
- International Association of Genocide Scholars, Member (2021-),
- International Commission on Missing Persons Panel of Experts, Member (2021-),
- Chatham House: International Affairs Think Tank, Associate Member (2019-), https://www.chathamhouse.org/
- Socio-Legal-Studies Association, Member (2019-), https://www.slsa.ac.uk/
- Higher Education Academy, Fellow (2015-),
- Society of Legal Scholars, Member,
Website Links
- Follow @GraveProtection, https://www.icmp.int/mass-graves-protection-project/
- AHRC funded project resulting in Bournemouth Protocol, https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/mass-grave-protection-truth-justice
- https://issuu.com/bournemouthuniversity/docs/the_bournemouth_protocol_on_mass_grave_protection_?fr=sMjc3OTI0MjAyNzM
- https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/magmap-mass-grave-mapping
- https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/mass-grave-protection-truth-justice
- https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/mass-grave-protection-truth-justice
- https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/missing-persons-indicator-project
- https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/missing-persons-indicator-project
External Media and Press
- The ICC can improve its image by going after North Korea and Islamic State fighters, The Conversation, 02 Dec 2014. https://theconversation.com/profiles/melanie-klinkner-129999/articles
- MH17 and human remains, Radio Wave 105, 23 Jul 2014. http://www.wave105.com/
- International law and flight MH17, The Conversation, 18 Jul 2014. https://theconversation.com/profiles/melanie-klinkner-129999/articles
- Charles Taylor uses media hype to lobby for a prison transfer, The Conversation, 25 Jun 2014. https://theconversation.com/profiles/melanie-klinkner-129999/articles
