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Expert blog: Better law for a better world – a Christmas wish list

Associate Professor Liz Curran is asking Santa to make society a fairer place for all in 2024.

    Different coloured wooden figures of people holding hands in front of christmas lights
    Research by Nottingham Law School aims to tackle inequality

    Dear Santa,

    Season’s greetings.

    International research shows unequal societies are bad for almost everyone. Societies that are equitable fare better in terms of indicators on health, wellbeing and happiness, so this is my wish list for Christmas as a researcher and practitioner - and it's all supported by evidence-based research from Nottingham Law School.

    1. Compliance with humanitarian and international law in countries where there is civil war and conflict. This is so that people (especially children and women who are often affected disproportionately) can live with dignity, safety and in peace.
    2. Fundamental rights under the law to humane housing, income security entitlements (especially) with increasing cost of living pressures, safety from domestic abuse, redressing discriminatory practices, averting homelessness and reductions in stress and anxiety are addressed through proper funding for legal support and expertise at the earliest stages.
    3. Safe harbour for those who are fleeing persecution by honouring the UN Convention on Refugees, so they are not detained or returned to unsafe countries by ensuring these people have proper, timely fair and just processing of applications and adherence to the law.
    4. For people to live in harmony without division, recognising that we have more in common than what divides us, that we are all human regardless of our economic, social, cultural, gender, racial, ethnic, or religious beliefs by ensuring protections that keep us united are not diminished.
    5. Laws, funding, and improvements in cultural and behaviour that lead to violence so that women and children are not so disproportionately exposed to domestic abuse, violence, and harm.
    6. That the voices of the vulnerable are facilitated by improved Court and Inquiry processes so that their stories can be heard respectfully and can shape and inform improvements from lessons learned.
    7. That the world can unite to address climate change especially as some communities will be dislocated and poorly effected and worldwide disasters are increasingly causing devastation.
    8. Improved, evidence based and wise leadership for the public good, a willingness of all decision-makers to hear and learn from lived experience of the people they serve and bolster trust and accountability in decision-making.

    Santa, you don't have to deliver all this on 25 December 2023, it will be fine if you can deliver my wishes in 2024.

    I promise to be good and try and ensure better law for a better world.

    Many thanks,
    Dr Liz Curran
    Associate Professor and Impact Research Lead, Nottingham Law School