Ms Emily Waller

Emily Waller is a doctoral researcher in the School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW, Sydney, Australia) and an affiliate of the UNSW Australian Human Rights Centre. Her thesis explores the phenomenon of conflict-related sexual violence stigmatisation in particular contexts and how and to what effect justice mechanisms are able to address this issue as part of a broader transformative approach. She is collecting empirical data for this research in Uganda and Rwanda, as both cases suffered high rates of conflict-related sexual violence, have set up layered forms of justice to account for such crimes, and offer differing temporal perspectives since the end of the violence. Emily is also a research associate for the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project "Combating sexual violence against women post-conflict through 'transformative' reparations: problems and prospects" (DP140102274), jointly led by Professor Louise Chappell, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, UNSW, and Professor Andrea Durbach and Associate Professor Sarah Williams, Faculty of Law, UNSW. Emily has a multidisciplinary research background which has focused on exploring the interface between public health, human rights, justice, security, and gender, with particular attention to the East Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.

Previously, Emily has supported research in Sri Lanka and the Solomon Islands, which led to the development of a practical field tool to provide rapid assessment of peace-building and conflict prevention components of health initiatives in conflict-affected settings. Further research focused on the UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers from a victim-centred and human rights perspective. Later, she worked for the cross-faculty UNSW Initiative for Health and Human Rights, and the Program on International Health and Human Rights, Harvard School of Public Health, where her research expanded to the theory, methods, tools and application of health and human rights frameworks to various international public health challenges, including HIV, sexual and reproductive health, and female genital mutilation/cutting. More recently, Emily was a research associate on an ARC Discovery Project (DP110101081) which analysed social science perspectives on public health responses to pandemic influenza, jointly led by Dr. Niamh Stephenson, in School of Public Health and Community Medicine at UNSW, and Dr. Mark Davis, School of Social Sciences, Monash University. Emily received her Master’s Degree in Public Health (International Health and Development) from UNSW.

Select publications:

Book Chapters

Waller, E., Arya, N., Pinto, A., & Zwi, A. (2010). Human rights and health interventions in post-conflict settings: reinforcing a health and peacebuilding tool with a rights-based approach. In E. Beracochea, D. Evans and C. Weinstein (Eds.), Rights-based approaches to public health for practitioners (pp. 221-250). New York: Springer Publishing.

Waller, E., & Tarantola, D. (2010). The three phases of health and human rights education: a new cross-disciplinary opportunity in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. In Human Rights Education in the Asia-Pacific (pp. 200-212). Osaka, Japan: Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center.

Peer-reviewed Articles

Gruskin, S., Waller, E., Safreed-Harmon, K., Ezer, T., Cohen, J., Gathumbi, A. & Kameri- Mbote, P. (2015). Integrating human rights in program evaluation: Lessons from law and health programs in Kenya. In B. Rosenstein & H. Desivilya Syna (Eds.), Evaluation and social justice in complex sociopolitical contexts. New Directions for Evaluation,146, 57–69.

Davis, M., Flowers, P., Lohm, D., Waller, E. and Stephenson, N. (in press, accepted 4 June 2014). “We became sceptics”: fear and media hype in general public narrative on the advent of pandemic influenza, Sociological Inquiry.

Davis, M., Flowers, P., Lohm, D., Waller, E., & Stephenson, N. (in press, accepted 13 May 2014). Immunity, Biopolitics and Pandemics: Public and Individual Responses to the Threat to Life. Body & Society.

Flowers, P., Stephenson, N., Lohm, D., Waller, E., & Davis, M. (in press, accepted 2 May 2014). Understanding pandemic influenza behaviour: an exploratory biopsychosocial study. Journal of Health Psychology.

Waller, E., Davis, M., & Stephenson, N. (2014). Australia's pandemic influenza 'Protect' phase: Emerging out of the fog of pandemic. Critical Public Health, DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2014.926310. 

Stephenson, N., Davis, M., Flowers, P., McGregor, C., & Waller, E. (2014). Mobilising “vulnerability” in the public health response to pandemic influenza. Social Science & Medicine, 102, 10-17, DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.11.031.

Waller, E., Palmer, E., & Chappell, L. (2014). Strengthening gender justice in the Asia Pacific through the Rome Statute. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 68(3), 356-373.

Lohm, D., Flowers, P. Stephenson, N., Waller, E. and Davis, M. (2014). Biography, pandemic time and risk: pregnant women reflecting on their experiences of the 2009 influenza pandemic. Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine, DOI: 10.1177/1363459313516135.

Chappell, L., Grey, R., & Waller, E. (2013). The gender justice shadow of complementarity: lessons from the international criminal court’s preliminary examinations in Guinea and Colombia. International Journal of Transitional Justice, 7(3), 455-475.

Le Thi Huong, Le Thi Thanh Xuan, Do Thi Thanh Toan, Hoang Thi Haio Van, Luu Ngoc Hoat, Wright, P., Waller, E., Nguyen, V., Sandstrom, M., & Tarantola, D. (2009). Sexual and reproductive health among sex workers in Hanoi community: a preliminary enquiry into experiences needs and access to services. Journal of Practical Medicine, 701-702 [published in Vietnamese].

Le Thi Huong, Le Thi Thanh Xuan, Do Thi Thanh Toan, Hoang Thi Haio Van, Luu Ngoc Hoat, Wright, P., Waller, E., Nguyen, V., Sandstrom, M., & Tarantola, D. (2009). Sexual and reproductive health among injecting drug users in a Hanoi community: a preliminary enquiry into experiences and needs to services. Journal of Practical Medicine, 703-704[published in Vietnamese].

Reports

Waller, E., & Gruskin, S. (Program on International Health and Human Rights). (2011). UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme on female genital mutilation/cutting: baseline data analysis report.  Boston: Harvard School of Public Health, 1 September 2011.

Tarantola, D., Hoat, L.N., Whelan, A., Wright, P., Xuan, L.T.T., Huong, L.T., Nguyen, V.T.T., Anh, N.T., Waller, E., Vine, K., Sandstrom, M., & Do, T.T. (2009). HIV/AIDS rehabilitation centres in Vietnam: sexual and reproductive health needs, care and choices of current and former detainees and their sexual partners: situational needs assessment and analysis report. Hanoi: Hanoi Medical School and The University of New South Wales, 6 November 2008.

Waller, E. (2007). Placing victims and rights at the centre:  examining the united nations response to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by peacekeepers. Major project report submitted towards the completion of a Master of Public Health degree.  Sydney: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales.

Bunde-Birouste, A., Eisenbruch, E., Grove, N., Humphrey, M., Silove, D., Waller, E., & Zwi, A. (UNSW Health and Conflict Project). (2004). Issues paper I: health and peace-building: securing the future.  Canberra: AusAID.

Bunde-Birouste, A., Eisenbruch, E., Grove, N., Humphrey, M., Silove, D., Waller, E., & Zwi, A. (2004). Considerations for policy: peace, conflict and development: investing in health and peace-building.  Sydney: The University of New South Wales.

Blogs

Waller, E., Grey, R., & Chappell, L.(2013). The gender justice shadow of complementarity: Lessons from the International Criminal Court's preliminary examinations in Guinea and Colombia. IntLawGrrls, http://ilg2.org/2013/08/06/the-gender-justice-shadow-of-complementarity-lessons-from-the-international-criminal-courts-preliminary-examinations-in-guinea-and-colombia/.

Conference presentations:

Waller, E. Sexual violence related stigmatisation in conflict affected-settings: Can reparations have a transformative impact? International Studies Association Annual Convention, New Orleans, USA (21 February 2015).

Waller, E. Children, sexual violence-related stigmatisation and transitional justice reparations: building a new research agenda. International Conference 25 Years CRC (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child), Leiden University, The Netherlands (19 November 2014).

Waller, E. Sexual violence related stigmatisation in conflict affected-settings: Can reparations have a transformative impact? UNSW International Criminal Law Workshop, UNSW, Australia (25 September 2014).

Waller, E.Sexual violence related stigmatisation and transitional justice reparations: building a new: research agenda. Panel: The short and long term prevention of widespread and systematic sexual violence (in armed conflict). Oceanic Conference of International Studies, University of Melbourne, Australia (10 July 2014).

Waller, E. Sexual violence-related stigmatisation and international criminal justice reparations: building a new research agenda. Australian Human Rights Centre and the Gender Violence Research Network Mini Symposium, UNSW, Australia (6 June 2014).

Waller, E. Australia’s pandemic influenza ‘protect’ phase: emerging out of the fog of pandemic. Panel: Pandemic influenza: people, policy, science, The Australian Sociological Association Conference, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (25-28 November 2013).

Waller, E. Can reparations transform sexual violence related stigmatisation?: Addressing the challenges for women and their children born of conflict-related sexual violence. Critical Perspectives: Arts & Social Sciences Postgraduate Conference, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (22 November 2013).

Waller, E., Palmer, E., & Chappell, L. Strengthening gender justice in the Asia-Pacific through the Rome Statute: problems and prospects. Australian Political Science Association Annual Conference, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia (30 September - 2 October 2013).

Waller, E., Chappell, L., & Grey, R. The gender justice shadow of complementarity: Lessons from the ICC’s preliminary examinations in Colombia and Guinea. Inaugural Australian International Criminal Law Workshop, Melbourne Law School, Melbourne, Australia (12 - 13 September 2013).

Waller, E., & Grey, R. The persuasive power of the International Criminal Court?: complementarity and gender justice at the national level. American Political Science Annual Meeting & Exhibition: “Power and Persuasion”, Chicago, IL, USA (29 August - 1 September 2013).

Waller, E. Australia’s pandemic influenza ‘protect’ phase: emerging out of the fog of pandemic. Panel: Governing a moving target: Transformations in public health in the face of the unknowns of disease emergence, Asia-Pacific Science, Technology & Society Network – Biennial Conference 2013: “Knowing, Making, Governing”, National University of Singapore, Singapore (15-17 July 2013).

Chappell, L., Grey, R., & Waller, E. The gender justice shadow of complementarity: lessons from the ICC’s preliminary examinations in Colombia and Guinea. Panel: Seeking accountability for sexual and gender-based crimes through international criminal tribunals: challenges and opportunities, Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law Annual Conference: “Accountability and International Law”, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia (4-6 July 2013).

Grey, R., Chappell, L., & Waller, E. Evaluating the diffusion of gender justice norms through the complementarity principle of the International Criminal Court: methodological challenges. International Studies Association Annual Convention: “The Politics of International Diffusion: Regional and Global Dimensions”, San Francisco, CA, USA (3-6 April 2013).

Waller, E. Accountability and human rights: survivor-centred approach to addressing sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers. The Second World Conference on Humanitarian Studies, co-hosted by the International Humanitarian Studies Associational and Tufts University, entitled “Changing realities of conflict and Crisis”, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA (5 June 2011).

Waller, E. HIV/AIDS and rehabilitation centres in Vietnam: determining the sexual and reproductive health needs, care and choices of current and former detainees and their sexual partners using a gender and human rights analysis, The University of New South Wales Initiative for Health and Human Rights and the Central Commission for Popularization and Education of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s “International Conference on Realising the Rights to Health and Development for All”, Hanoi, Vietnam (26-29 October 2009).

Waller, E. Health and human rights: victim-centred approach to addressing sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers. The University of New South Wales School of Public Health and Community Medicine Seminar Series, Sydney, Australia (12 September 2007).

Waller, E. Health and peacebuilding filter: principles guiding policy and practice in conflict-affected settings, 37th Annual Public Health Association of Australia Conference, "Tackling the Determinants of Health from the Bush to Bondi”, Sydney, Australia (26 September 2007).

Teaching:

ARTS2845 Sex, Justice, Human Rights, guest lecturer and tutor

PHCM9605 International Health, guest lecturer and external tutor

PHCM9012 Health Promotion & Social Perspectives of Health, external tutor

GENM0518, Health and Power in an Internet Age, tutor

Professional Memberships:

Member, American Political Science Association

Member, International Studies Association

Member, UNSW Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences Higher Degree Research Committee