Dr Samantha Spence

Course Director Associate Professor

Health, Education, Policing and Sciences

Dr Samantha Spence is an Associate Professor of International Human Rights and Social Justice and Course Director for both the Law programmes and the International Relations programmes at University of Staffordshire. She brings extensive academic and professional expertise to her role, with a particular focus on advancing human rights protections for marginalised and vulnerable groups.

Her teaching and research are rooted in a commitment to addressing pressing global challenges, including violence against women and girls, superstition-related harms, and the rights of communities often excluded from mainstream legal protections. She has worked closely with international organisations, including the United Nations, contributing to policy development and global human rights initiatives.

As Course Director, Samantha is dedicated to ensuring that students receive a rich and practice-oriented education that combines rigorous academic training with real-world impact. She works closely with colleagues, students, and external partners to create a learning environment that is inclusive, supportive, and globally engaged.

Samantha is also widely published, with her research influencing debates on gender justice, legal reform, and cultural practices in South Asia and beyond. Her work bridges the gap between scholarship and policy, providing critical insights that inform teaching, research, and international advocacy.

Professional memberships and activities

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), 2023
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2018
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), 2014

Academic qualifications

PhD in Law, Lancaster University (2013–2016)
LLM (Research) in Law (Distinction), Edge Hill University (2011–2013)
LLB (Hons) Law (First Class),Edge Hill University (2007–2010)

Expertise

International Human Rights Law and Social Justice
Feminist Legal Theory and Jurisprudence
Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Rights
Witchcraft Accusations and Superstition-Related Harms
Cultural and Harmful Traditional Practices
Refugee and Migration Law
Human Rights in South Asia (with a focus on India)
Postgraduate Legal Education and Research Supervision
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Legal and policy reform on harmful practices
International engagement with the United Nations and UK Parliament
Advisory roles on witchcraft accusations, ritual attacks, and spiritual abuse
Research leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration
Curriculum development and postgraduate course direction

Research interests

International Human Rights and Social Justice
Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Rights
Witchcraft Accusations, Superstition, and Ritual Attacks
Harmful Traditional and Cultural Practices
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in South Asia and the UK
Feminist Legal Theory and Jurisprudence
Human Rights and Marginalisation of Vulnerable Communities
Refugee and Migration Law (with a focus on India and South Asia)
Intersection of Law, Religion, and Social Justice
Legal and Policy Reform on Superstition-Related Harms

Grants

2022: Policy Impact Funding — Hidden Crimes of Cultural Violence: Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) (£5,000)

2022: WELCOME CIC — Investigation into Socio-cultural Determinants of Violence Against Women and Girls (£25,000)

2022: Open Society Foundations — Study on Persons with Albinism in the UK ($9,000) 2018: Jenkinson Award for Research (£5,000)

2013: Iredell Scholarship — PhD funding, Lancaster University

Teaching

Samantha oversees the development and delivery of the law portfolio, ensuring programmes are academically rigorous, practice-focused, and supportive of student progression.

She teaches across postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in Law, with responsibilities including:

LLM International Law
Research Methods
International Human Rights and Social Justice
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dissertations

Postgraduate supervision

Samantha also supervises PhD and LLM research projects, particularly in areas relating to human rights, VAWG and social justice.

Publications

Books

• Spence, S., Kumar, G. & George, A.P., Empowerment and Justice: Navigating Human Rights for Marginalised Communities (Manchester University Press 2026 - Forthcoming)

• Spence, S., Kumar, G., & Suresh, N. Witchcraft, Superstition, and Rationality: Examining Harmful Practices, Legislation, and Cultural Beliefs in India (Cambridge Scholars 2025)

• Spence, S. Witchcraft Accusations and Persecution as a Marginalisation Mechanism of Women (Cambridge Scholars 2017)

Book chapters

• Spence, S. (2026) ‘Honour, Shame, and the Feminisation of Blame: Witchcraft Accusations as Patriarchal Governance in India’ in Anand, A., and Nagaveni, P.L., Cultural Boundaries and Tragedies: Honour, Shame, and the Dynamics of Violence in South Asian Communities (Cambridge Scholars 2026) Forthcoming

• Spence, S and Kumar G (2025) ‘Engaging Men, Unlearning Power: Masculinity and Feminist Accountability in India’ in Spence, S., Kumar, G., and George, A.P. Empowerment and Justice: Navigating Human Rights for Marginalised Communities in India (Manchester University Press 2026 – forthcoming)

• Spence, S., George, A.P. and Idrees, U., (forthcoming 2026) ‘Peace as Protection: Rethinking Refugee Law Through the Lens of Conflict Transformation in Kashmir’, in Khan, B.U., Bhuiyan, J. & Alam, M.J. (eds), Routledge Handbook of International Refugee Law. Routledge.

• Spence, S., Kumar, G. and Suresh, N. (2025) ‘Patriarchy, Superstition, and the Feminisation of Evil: Understanding Gendered Violence in Witchcraft Accusations’ in Spence, S., Kumar, G. and Suresh, N. Witchcraft, Superstition, and Rationality: Examining Harmful Practices, Legislation, and Cultural Beliefs in India (Cambridge Scholars 2025)

• Spence, S., & Kumar, G. (2025) ‘Navigating the Sacred and the Secular: Balancing Religious Traditions, Harmful Practices, and Women's Rights in India’. In Anand, A., & Das, D. Gender-Based Violence and Religion: Reinforcing Rights and Clarifying the Existing International Human Rights Framework (Cambridge Scholars 2025)

Journal publications

• Spence, S., and Anand, A., 'Cultural Contexts: Witchcraft Accusations, Gender Realities, And Local Insights in India' (April 23, 2025) IX UPES Law Review. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=6148386

• Spence, S., & Suresh, N. (2024). ‘Dowry Practices in Kerala: Trends, Implications, and Socio-Legal Perspectives’ Indian Journal of Integrated Research in Law 4(1) pp. 1049 -1070.

• Spence, S., & Suresh, N. (2024). ‘Safeguarding Our Daughters: Tackling Female Infanticide and Foeticide in India through Legal and Social Perspectives’ Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research 6(1) pp.2699 – 2713.

• Spence, S., & Suresh, N. (2024). ‘Addressing the Legal Gap: Implementing Unified Anti-Superstition Law in India’ International Journal of All Research and Scientific Methods 12(2) pp. 1809 - 1818.

• Spence, S., & Suresh, N. (2024). ‘Exploring the Intersection of Witchcraft Accusations and Sex Education in India: Challenges, Implications, and Opportunities’ International Journal of All Research and Scientific Methods 12(2) pp. 1819 - 1827.

• Bettels, K., Grimstead, D., Allsop, C., Chaussee, A., Bolton-King, R.S., Sturdy Colls, C., Chapman, B., Keatley, D., Tilley, E., Turner, J., Spence, S., & Marquardt, A. (2022). ‘Finding the Missing and Unknown: Novel Educational Approaches to Warming up Cold Cases’ Science and Justice Elsevier.

External profiles

ORCID