Charlotte is a Junior Research Fellow at Queens’ College Cambridge. Charlotte researches female genital mutilation (“FGM”) jurisprudence in Western nations, which have secured convictions for FGM such as France, Australia and the USA. She focuses on the impact of the criminalisation of FGM upon communities’ attitudes, beliefs and behaviours towards FGM. Charlotte applies an intersectional approach as well as a human rights and feminist theoretical framework.
She was awarded a Doctorate in Philosophy from King’s College, Cambridge. Charlotte’s research (The Impact of Criminalisation on Female Genital Mutilation in England: From the Perspective of Women and Stakeholders) involved a socio-legal analysis of FGM and associated law and policy in England. The research focused on why FGM persists in England when the practice has been a criminal offence since 1985; and why there has not been a single conviction in the ensuing three decades. Charlotte undertook qualitative research with women and stakeholders. During her Doctorate, Charlotte was a Visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School where she studied feminist legal theory.
Charlotte also practices as a human rights barrister specialising in violence against women and girls. Charlotte represents women and girls in cases of FGM, forced marriage and sex trafficking.
She is a regular media commentator on issues that relate to her research, often appearing on the BBC and in the Independent and the Guardian et cetera.
