Home › Research▻People▻Political Science & Sociology

Political Science & Sociology

Professor Niamh Reilly

M.A., Ph.D.

Contact Details

Professor
Room 310
Aras Moyola
School of Political Science & Sociology
NUI Galway

T: Ext. 4345
E: niamh.reilly@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Niamh Reilly is Established Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She has published widely on issues of gender and human rights; feminist political and social theory; religion and gender in the public sphere; transnational women's movements and the United Nations; and women, peace and security. Her book, Women's Human Rights: Seeking Gender Justice in a Globalizing Age (Polity Press, 2009) was selected as an "Outstanding Academic Title for 2010" by the American Library Association/CHOICE. She is co-author of Demanding Accountability: The Global Campaign and Vienna Tribunal for Women's Human Rights (UNIFEM 1994) (with Distinguished Professor Charlotte Bunch, Rutgers University).  Niamh has many years' experience working with United Nations processes and Civil Society Organisations internationally and has served as a independent expert on the Irish government's Department of Foreign Affairs' Standing Committee on Human Rights (1997-1999) and its Consultative Group to draft Ireland's National Action Plan on UN Security Council 1325 (2010-2011). Before joining NUI Galway in 2007, Niamh was a Research Council of the UK Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Transitional Justice Institute, University of Ulster and a postdoctoral fellow in Women's Studies and Politics at the University of Limerick Ireland. Niamh is co-founder (with Dr. Breda Gray) the NUI Galway-UL research network Gender ARC.  Her research interests focus on the theory and practice of gender, human rights and international politics. Her most recent book is an edited collection (with S Scriver) entitled Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere (Routledge 2014). She is editor of The Human Rights of Women (Springer, Major Reference Works, forthcoming 2018).   In the context of Ireland's decade of centenaries (1912-1922), she is currently preparing a book on the political and social thought of Thomas Kettle (1880-1916).
 

Research Interests

Niamh Reilly's research  interests include gender and human rights; feminist political and social theory; religion and gender in the public sphere; transnational women's movements and the United Nations; and women, peace and security.

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Recasting Secular Thinking for Emancipatory Feminist Practice'
Niamh Reilly (2017) 'Recasting Secular Thinking for Emancipatory Feminist Practice'. Social Compass, [Details]
(2017) 'How Ending Impunity for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Overwhelmed the UN Women Peace and Security Agenda: A Discursive Genealogy'
Niamh Reilly (2017) 'How Ending Impunity for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Overwhelmed the UN Women Peace and Security Agenda: A Discursive Genealogy'. Violence Against Women, [Details]
(2013) 'Gender Equality Policy and Gender Mainstreaming in Irish Aid: From Diffusion to Dilution to Disappearance'
Niamh Reilly (2013) 'Gender Equality Policy and Gender Mainstreaming in Irish Aid: From Diffusion to Dilution to Disappearance'. Irish Studies In International Affairs, Vol. 24 (2013):237-257 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Cosmopolitanism and Feminism'
Reilly, N,Rovisco, M,Nowicka, M (2011) 'Cosmopolitanism and Feminism'. Ashgate Research Companion To Cosmopolitanism, :367-386 [Details]
(2011) 'Rethinking the interplay of feminism and secularism in a neo-secular age'
Reilly, N (2011) 'Rethinking the interplay of feminism and secularism in a neo-secular age'. Feminist Review, :5-31 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Doing Transnational Feminism, Transforming Human Rights'
Reilly, Niamh (2011) 'Doing Transnational Feminism, Transforming Human Rights'. Irish Journal Of Sociology, 19 (2) [Details]
(2010) 'Review: What Happened to the Women? Gender and Reparations for Human Rights Violations and To Save Her Life: Disappearance, Deliverance, and the United States in Guatemala'
Reilly, N (2010) 'Review: What Happened to the Women? Gender and Reparations for Human Rights Violations and To Save Her Life: Disappearance, Deliverance, and the United States in Guatemala'. Perspectives On Politics, 8 :328-330 [Details]
(2007) 'Linking Local and Global Feminist Advocacy: Framing Women's Rights as Human Rights in the Republic of Ireland'
Reilly, N. (2007) 'Linking Local and Global Feminist Advocacy: Framing Women's Rights as Human Rights in the Republic of Ireland'. Women's Studies International Forum, 30 :114-133 [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2007) 'Cosmopolitan Feminism and Human Rights'
Reilly, N. (2007) 'Cosmopolitan Feminism and Human Rights'. Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy, 22 (4):180-198 [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2007) 'Seeking Gender Justice in Post-Conflict Transitions: Towards a Transformative Women’s Human Rights Approach'
Reilly, N. (2007) 'Seeking Gender Justice in Post-Conflict Transitions: Towards a Transformative Women’s Human Rights Approach'. International Journal of Law in Context, 3 (2):155-172 [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2005) 'Cultural Recognition and Human Rights: Lessons from the Experience of Irish Traveller Women'
Reilly, N. (2005) 'Cultural Recognition and Human Rights: Lessons from the Experience of Irish Traveller Women'. Human Rights Dialogue, 2 (12) [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2005) 'The UN Beijing Platform for Action 1995-2005: Local Global Political Spaces, NGO Advocacy, and Governmental Responses in the Republic of Ireland'
Reilly, N. (2005) 'The UN Beijing Platform for Action 1995-2005: Local Global Political Spaces, NGO Advocacy, and Governmental Responses in the Republic of Ireland'. Irish Political Studies, 20 (2):187-200 [ARAN Link] [Details]
(1995) 'Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence'
Reilly, N., Roche, S.E., Biron, K. (1995) 'Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence'. Violence Against Women, 1 :272-281 [Details]

Books

  Year Publication
(2009) Women’s Human Rights: Seeking Gender Justice in a Globalizing Age.
Reilly, N. (2009) Women’s Human Rights: Seeking Gender Justice in a Globalizing Age. London: Polity Press. [Details]
(1994) Demanding Accountability: The Global Campaign and Vienna Tribunal for Women's Human Rights. New York: United Nations Development Fund for Women.
Reilly, N., Bunch, C. (1994) Demanding Accountability: The Global Campaign and Vienna Tribunal for Women's Human Rights. New York: United Nations Development Fund for Women. New York: United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Secularism, Feminism and the Public Sphere'
Reilly, Niamh (2017) 'Secularism, Feminism and the Public Sphere' In: The Oxford Handbook of Secularism, ed. John Shook and Phil Zuckerman. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. [Details]
(2017) 'Ireland’s Abortion Regime on the World Stage: Performative Acts and the Claim to State Sovereignty in Foreign Policy Discourse'
Reilly, Niamh (2017) 'Ireland’s Abortion Regime on the World Stage: Performative Acts and the Claim to State Sovereignty in Foreign Policy Discourse' In: Gender, Nation, Text. Berlin/London: LIT Verlag. [Details]
(2014) 'Gender justice and the ‘postsecular’ public sphere: Toward non-oppressive reconfigurations'
Scriver, S. and Reilly, N. (2014) 'Gender justice and the ‘postsecular’ public sphere: Toward non-oppressive reconfigurations' In: Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere. UK: Routledge. [Details]
(2014) 'Introduction: Religion, Law, and Human Rights'
Niamh Reilly (2014) 'Introduction: Religion, Law, and Human Rights' In: Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere. New York and London: Routledge. [Details]
(2014) 'Gender Justice and the Postsecular Public Sphere: Toward Non-Oppressive Reconfigurations'
N Reilly and S Scriver (2014) 'Gender Justice and the Postsecular Public Sphere: Toward Non-Oppressive Reconfigurations' In: Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere. New York and London: Routledge. [Details]
(2014) 'Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere: Mapping the Terrain'
Niamh Reilly (2014) 'Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere: Mapping the Terrain' In: Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere. New York and London: Routledge. [Details]
(2011) 'Cosmopolitanism and Feminism'
Reilly, N. (2011) 'Cosmopolitanism and Feminism' In: The Ashgate Research Companion to Cosmopolitanism. Farnham, Surrey, UK: Ashgate. [Details]
(2008) 'International Norms, Global Issues and Local Action: Critical Approaches to Women’s Human Rights in Ireland'
Reilly, N. (2008) 'International Norms, Global Issues and Local Action: Critical Approaches to Women’s Human Rights in Ireland' In: Where Are We Now? New Feminist Perspectives on Women in Ireland. Dublin: New Island Publishers. [Details]
(2001) 'International Networking for Women’s Human Rights'
Reilly, N., Bunch, C., Antrobus, P. (2001) 'International Networking for Women’s Human Rights' In: Global Citizen Action. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers. [Details]
(1997) 'Feminist Approaches to Human Rights Education'
Reilly, N. (1997) 'Feminist Approaches to Human Rights Education' In: Local and Global Perspectives: Women's Rights as Human Rights. Strategies and Analyses from the ICCL Working Conference on Women’s Rights as Human Rights. Dublin: ICCL Women's Committee. [Details]
(1995) 'The Global Campaign: Violence against Women Violates Human Rights'
Reilly, N., Bunch, C. (1995) 'The Global Campaign: Violence against Women Violates Human Rights' In: From Basic Needs to Basic Rights. Washington, DC, USA: Washington: Women, Law and Development International. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(1996) Annual WERRC Conference: Feminism, Politics, Community
Reilly, N. (1996) Global Feminism, Diversity and Political Transformation . In: Smyth, A eds. Annual WERRC Conference: Feminism, Politics, Community UCD, [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2014) Effectiveness of Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Gender Equality Review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in the EU Member States.
European Institute for Gender Equality (Ireland National Expert: Niamh Reilly) (2014) Effectiveness of Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Gender Equality Review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in the EU Member States. EIGE, Luxembourg. [Details]
(2014) Women’s Leadership and Participation in the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes Region: Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunities.
Niamh Reilly, Roslyn Warren (2014) Women’s Leadership and Participation in the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes Region: Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunities. Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and Centre for Global Women's Studies, NUIG, Galway Ireland and Georgetown USA. [Details]
(2011) Ireland’s National Action Plan for Implementation of UNSCR 1325, 2011 - 2014.
Reilly, N. (2011) Ireland’s National Action Plan for Implementation of UNSCR 1325, 2011 - 2014. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dublin, Ireland. [Details]
(2010) UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Towards an Effective and Inclusive Irish National Action Plan.
Global Women's Studies Programme (Niamh Reilly) (2010) UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Towards an Effective and Inclusive Irish National Action Plan. National Women's Council of Ireland, Trocaire, Global Women's Studies Programme, NUIG, et al, Dublin, Ireland. [Details]
(2005) Women Testify: A Planning Guide for Popular Tribunals and Hearings.
Reilly, N., Posluszny, L. (2005) Women Testify: A Planning Guide for Popular Tribunals and Hearings. . Center for Women's Global Leadership, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. [Details]
(1998) Affordable Accommodation: A Trade Union Issue and a Human Right.
Reilly, N. (1998) Affordable Accommodation: A Trade Union Issue and a Human Right. SIPTU/CPSU, Dublin. [Details]
(1997) State Accountability for Women's Human Rights in Ireland.
Reilly, N. (1997) State Accountability for Women's Human Rights in Ireland. Women's Education Research and Resource Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin. [Details]
(1994) Testimonies of the Global Tribunal on Violations of Women's Rights at the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna June 1993.
Reilly, N. (1994) Testimonies of the Global Tribunal on Violations of Women's Rights at the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna June 1993. Center for Women's Global Leadership, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(2014) Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere.
Reilly, Niamh and Scriver S (Ed.). (2014) Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere Religion, Gender and the Public Sphere. New York and London: Routledge and Taylor Francis. [Details]
(1997) Local and Global Perspectives: Women's Rights as Human Rights. Strategies and Analyses from the ICCL Working Conference on Women’s Rights as Human Rights.
Reilly, N (Ed.). (1997) Local and Global Perspectives: Women's Rights as Human Rights. Strategies and Analyses from the ICCL Working Conference on Women’s Rights as Human Rights Local and Global Perspectives: Women's Rights as Human Rights. Strategies and Analyses from the ICCL Working Conference on Women’s Rights as Human Rights. Dublin: Iirsh Council for Civil Liberties, Women's Committee. [Details]
(1996) Without Reservation: The Beijing Tribunal on Accountability for Women's Human Rights.
Reilly, N (Ed.). (1996) Without Reservation: The Beijing Tribunal on Accountability for Women's Human Rights Without Reservation: The Beijing Tribunal on Accountability for Women's Human Rights. New Brunswick, NJ, USA: Rutgers University, Center for Women's Global Leadership. [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2015) 'Gender Justice and Ireland’s Human Rights Council Commitments: Challenging the Gaps between Rhetoric and Practice'
Niamh Reilly (2015) 'Gender Justice and Ireland’s Human Rights Council Commitments: Challenging the Gaps between Rhetoric and Practice' Essex Human Rights Review Volume, . [Details]
(2009) 'Review of: Striapacha Tri Chead Bliain Duailcis'
Reilly, N. (2009) 'Review of: Striapacha Tri Chead Bliain Duailcis' Estudios Irlandeses, . [Details]
(2008) 'Roundtable Discussion: Reflections on the Past, Prospects for the Future'
Reilly, N., Zalewski, M. et al (2008) 'Roundtable Discussion: Reflections on the Past, Prospects for the Future' Millennium: Journal of International Studies, . [Details]

Conference Paper

  Year Publication
(2011) Secularisms and Feminisms in a Neo-secular age. ESF LiU Conference on Gender, Religion and Human Rights, Sweden.
Reilly, N. (2011) Secularisms and Feminisms in a Neo-secular age. ESF LiU Conference on Gender, Religion and Human Rights, Sweden. Conference Paper [Details]
(2011) Feminist approaches to religion and secularism. Conference: The Postsecular and International Relations, University of Sussex, October, 2011.
Reilly, N. (2011) Feminist approaches to religion and secularism. Conference: The Postsecular and International Relations, University of Sussex, October, 2011. Conference Paper [Details]
(2011) Rethinking the interplay of feminism and secularism in a neo-secular age. European Conference on Politics and Gender, Budapest, Hungary.
Reilly, N. (2011) Rethinking the interplay of feminism and secularism in a neo-secular age. European Conference on Politics and Gender, Budapest, Hungary. Conference Paper [Details]
(2010) “Ireland’s National Action Plan - UNSCR 1325”,. (Hanna’s House Summer School), University of Ulster, Belfast.
Reilly, N. (2010) “Ireland’s National Action Plan - UNSCR 1325”,. (Hanna’s House Summer School), University of Ulster, Belfast. Conference Paper [Details]
(2009) Fundamentalisms and (Human) Security, International Studies Association conference, NY.
Reilly, N. (2009) Fundamentalisms and (Human) Security, International Studies Association conference, NY. Conference Paper [Details]
(2007) Rising Fundamentalisms and Women’s Human Rights. Socio-legal Studies Association Conference.
Reilly, N. (2007) Rising Fundamentalisms and Women’s Human Rights. Socio-legal Studies Association Conference. University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom: Conference Paper [Details]
(2006) Gender mainstreaming and women's participation in conflict resolution and transitional contexts. gender mainstreaming training for Malaysian women leaders organised by INCORE and the Junction at UU Magee.
Reilly, N. (2006) Gender mainstreaming and women's participation in conflict resolution and transitional contexts. gender mainstreaming training for Malaysian women leaders organised by INCORE and the Junction at UU Magee. Conference Paper [Details]
(2006) Cosmopolitan Feminism and Human Rights. International Political Science Association, World Congress.
Reilly, N. (2006) Cosmopolitan Feminism and Human Rights. International Political Science Association, World Congress. Fukuoka, Japan: Conference Paper [Details]
(2006) Using International Human Rights Commitments to Challenge Gender-based Welfare Inequality. plenary presentation at a conference convened by the National Women's Council of Ireland, Can the Law Create Social Welfare Reform?.
Reilly, N. (2006) Using International Human Rights Commitments to Challenge Gender-based Welfare Inequality. plenary presentation at a conference convened by the National Women's Council of Ireland, Can the Law Create Social Welfare Reform?. Dublin: Conference Paper [Details]
(2006) Globalisation and Women's Human Rights. seminar presented at University College Cork Faculty of Law Globalisation Research Group.
Reilly, N. (2006) Globalisation and Women's Human Rights. seminar presented at University College Cork Faculty of Law Globalisation Research Group. University College Cork: Conference Paper [Details]
(2006) Gender equality: toward a transformative human rights approach. International Conference on Equality and Social Inclusion in the 21st Century.
Reilly, N. (2006) Gender equality: toward a transformative human rights approach. International Conference on Equality and Social Inclusion in the 21st Century. Belfast: Conference Paper [Details]
(2004) Women’s Rights as Human Rights: An Unfinished Agenda?. Irish Human Rights Commission public consultation.
Reilly, N. (2004) Women’s Rights as Human Rights: An Unfinished Agenda?. Irish Human Rights Commission public consultation. Limerick: Conference Paper [Details]
(2004) Feminist Perspectives on Human Rights and Human Security Discourses: An Overview. annual meeting of the Political Studies Association of Ireland.
Reilly, N. (2004) Feminist Perspectives on Human Rights and Human Security Discourses: An Overview. annual meeting of the Political Studies Association of Ireland. Limerick: Conference Paper [Details]
(2003) Understanding Obstacles to Implementing UN Human Rights Agreements in Ireland: the application of recent IR models. annual meeting of the Political Studies Association of Ireland.
Reilly, N. (2003) Understanding Obstacles to Implementing UN Human Rights Agreements in Ireland: the application of recent IR models. annual meeting of the Political Studies Association of Ireland. Dublin: Conference Paper [Details]
(2002) Advancing Women’s Human Rights at the United Nations: The Challenges of Implementation. Equality Studies’ Public Lecture Series.
Reilly, N. (2002) Advancing Women’s Human Rights at the United Nations: The Challenges of Implementation. Equality Studies’ Public Lecture Series. University College Dublin: Conference Paper [Details]
(2002) Strengthening Co-operation and Women's International Networking. Know-How Conference on Women and Communications.
Reilly, N. (2002) Strengthening Co-operation and Women's International Networking. Know-How Conference on Women and Communications. Kampala, Uganda: Conference Paper [Details]
(2000) The World Wide Web as a Tool for Women’s Human Rights Activism. Round Table Discussion hosted by the UNDP as part of the parallel proceedings of the Beijing Plus Five Review.
Reilly, N. (2000) The World Wide Web as a Tool for Women’s Human Rights Activism. Round Table Discussion hosted by the UNDP as part of the parallel proceedings of the Beijing Plus Five Review. New York: Conference Paper [Details]
(2000) Women’s Rights as Human Rights: A Framework for Local Action. annual conference of Banulacht; Women in Development Network.
Reilly, N. (2000) Women’s Rights as Human Rights: A Framework for Local Action. annual conference of Banulacht; Women in Development Network. Dublin: Conference Paper [Details]
(1996) Using International Human Rights to Challenge Violence against Women. International Conference on Violence, Abuse, and Women's Citizenship.
Reilly, N. (1996) Using International Human Rights to Challenge Violence against Women. International Conference on Violence, Abuse, and Women's Citizenship. Violence, Abuse and Gender Relations Unit of the University of Bradford, Brighton, UK: Conference Paper [Details]
(1994) Interrogating Critiques of Universality and Advancing Human Rights. 90th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association.
Reilly, N. (1994) Interrogating Critiques of Universality and Advancing Human Rights. 90th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association. New York, NY: Conference Paper [Details]
(1993) The Challenge of Women's Human Rights Movements to the Theory and Practice of Human Rights. 89th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association.
Reilly, N. (1993) The Challenge of Women's Human Rights Movements to the Theory and Practice of Human Rights. 89th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association. Washington, DC: Conference Paper [Details]

Non Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2005) Stop Violence against Women” Campaign 2005-2010: Mapping External Challenges and Opportunities. Internal discussion paper prepared for Amnesty International.
Reilly, N. (2005) Stop Violence against Women” Campaign 2005-2010: Mapping External Challenges and Opportunities. Internal discussion paper prepared for Amnesty International. Non Published Reports [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2010 American Library Association Outstanding AcademicTitle (Women's Human Rights) American Library Association/CHOICE

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2013 NUI Galway Law

Teaching Interests

Undergraduate 
Social Issues and Policy Responses
Gender and Human Rights 
Postgraduate
Philosophy of Social Science
Political Theory

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2013 Emily Bent PhD Y
2014 Iris Elliott PhD Y
2014 Marja Almqvist Masters Degree (M.Litt.) Y

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Hilary Dully Doctorate - Structured PhD (Digital Arts and Humanities) Co-supervisor (1)
Amie Lajoie Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Supervisor

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
Semester One Philosophy of Social Science SP6111 Core module of MA Politics and Sociology
Semester One Classical Social Thought SP212 Core module of BA Political Science and Sociology, (joint honors subject))
Semester Two Social Issues and Policy Responses SP235 BA in Sociological and Political Studies, Year 2 Option
Semester Two Political Theory SP6112 Core module MA in Politics and Sociology