Staff Profile

Sean is a NUACT Fellow based at Newcastle Law School. He holds a PhD in Law from Edinburgh University, LLM International Human Rights Law and Transitional Justice, (Transitional Justice Institute, University of Ulster), LLM International Business and Commercial Law (Liverpool John Moore's) and LLB Law from Queen's University, Belfast. Sean has previously worked as a lecturer at Northumbria Law School, research associate at Newcastle Law School, and a Peace Agreement Analyst for the Political Settlements Research Programme. Sean is an associate of the PeaceRep . Sean has worked as a consultant for International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, UN bodies and governmental agencies. Sean has also conceptualised and delivered a database on peace agreements and children, and continues to work on databases on both peace agreements and constitution-making in conflict-affected settings.

Sean's research focuses on children's rights, particularly in societies attempting to transition from conflict to peace. Sean also researches in the area of comparative constitutional law and constitution building and reform in transitioning societies.

• Articles

  • Molloy S, Hollingsworth K. To Prosecute or Not to Prosecute: Towards a Relational-Rights Approach to Responding to Child Soldiers. Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights 2025. In Preparation.
  • Molloy S. The Missing Phase: Rethinking Child Participation in Peacebuilding. International Journal of Human Rights 2025. Submitted.
  • Molloy S. Living apart together: child participation in the context of peace process theory and practice. Peacebuilding 2025, (ePub ahead of Print).
  • Molloy S. Connecting Truth Commissions, Socioeconomic Harms and Child Participation. International Journal of Transitional Justice 2025. In Press.
  • Molloy S. The Universal Periodic Review and peace agreement implementation: conceptualising connections, challenges, and ways forward. London Review of International Law 2024, 12(1), 95-122.
  • Molloy S. The Committee on the Rights of the Child and Article 12: Applying the Lundy model to treaty body recommendations. Leiden Journal of International Law 2024, 37(3), 669-693.
  • Molloy S. Child Soldiers and Peace Agreements. International and Comparative Law Quarterly 2024, 73(1), 103-134.
  • Molloy S. Exclusionary inclusion? Peace Agreements and Provisions on Child Protection. Nordic Journal of Human Rights 2023, 415(4), 432-451.
  • Molloy S. Conceptualising the Transformative Justice Potential of Peace Processes. International Journal of Human Rights 2023, 27(2), 307-334.
  • Molloy S, Smith R. Advancing human rights in a post-Brexit era: Global Britain or wavering Britain?. Cambridge Review of International Affairs 2023, 36(4), 578-596.
  • Molloy, S. The Power of Teaching Police through the Prism of Human Rights. International Journal of Public Legal Education 2022, 6, 1.
  • Molloy, S. Contemplating the Lundy Model as a Framework for Children’s Participation in Peace Negotiations. International Journal of Children's Rights 2022.
  • Molloy S. Advancing Children's Rights in Peace Processes: The role of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Human Rights Law Review 2022, 22(3), ngac022.
  • Molloy S. 'Why do states ratify human rights treaties after Conflict? '. International Journal of Human Rights 2020. Submitted.
  • Molloy, S. Approach with Caution: Sunset Clauses as Safeguards of Democracy?. European Journal of Law Reform 2021, 23(2).
  • Mallory C, Molloy S, Murray CRG. Tort, Truth Recovery and the Northern Ireland Conflict. European Human Rights Law Review 2020, 2020(3), 244-262.
  • Smith R, Molloy S. Navigating Human Rights in a ‘Post-Human Rights’ Era: Mapping the Terrain through the Lens of ASEAN States. Asia-Pacific Journal of Human Rights and Law 2020, 21(2), 139-194.
  • Molloy S. ‘National Human Rights Institutions and Post-Conflict Settings: An Evolving Research Agenda?’. Journal of Human Rights Practice 2020. Submitted.
  • Smith R, Mallory C, Molloy S. Brexiting human rights diplomacy at the United Nations Human Rights Council: opportunity or cause for concern?. The International Journal of Human Rights 2020, 24(4), 414-438.

• Authored Books

  • Molloy S. Children and Peace Agreements: Inclusion Across Negotiation, Text, and Practice. Brill | Nijhoff, 2026. In Preparation.
  • Molloy S. Business, Peacebuilding, and Regulation : The Role of the State. London: Routledge, 2024.

• Book Chapters

  • Molloy S. ‘Sustainable Development Goal 16’. In: Long, G, Molloy, S, Clough, E, Muggleton, E, Hardacre, J, Bolam, R, Cansino, H, and Luxton, L, ed. The SDGs and Scotland: a discussion paper and initial analysis’. 2019. In Preparation.
  • Molloy S, Paladini B. ‘More inclusive monitoring of peace agreement implementation: Barometer Initiative in Colombia'. In: Andy Carl, ed. Navigating inclusion in peace processes. Conciliation Resources, 2019. In Preparation.

• Online Publications

  • Molloy S. The Illusion of Inclusion: Child Protection in Peace Agreements. NewZealand: Peace News Network, 2025. Available at: https://peacenews.com/the-illusion-of-inclusion-child-protection-in-peace-agreements/#:~:text=The%20findings%20suggest%20that%20while,prioritize%20protection%20over%20participation%E2%80%8B..
  • Molloy S. Rewriting the Future: How Peace Agreements Can Break the Cycle of Child Soldiering. NewZealand: Peace News Network, 2025. Available at: https://peacenews.com/rewriting-the-future-how-peace-agreements-can-break-the-cycle-of-child-soldiering/.
  • Molloy S. Making Connections Between Peace Agreements, Parliamentarians and Security Council Agendas. Edinburgh: Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, 2025. Available at: https://peacerep.org/2023/10/04/making-connections-peace-agreements-parliament-security-council-agendas/#:~:text=Nevertheless%2C%20particularly%20when%20the%20challenges,ensure%20the%20realization%20of%20the.
  • Molloy S. Living Apart Together: Why Children Belong at the Heart of Peace Processes. Edinburgh: Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, 2025. Available at: https://peacerep.org/2025/05/26/living-apart-together/.
  • Molloy, S. Making Connections Between Peace Agreements, Parliamentarians and Security Council Agendas. University of Edinburgh: PEACE REP, 2024. Available at: https://peacerep.org/2023/10/04/making-connections-peace-agreements-parliament-security-council-agendas/.
  • Molloy S. Child Soldiers and Peace Agreements. Edinburgh: PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, University of Edinburgh, 2023. Available at: https://peacerep.org/publication/child-soldiers-and-peace-agreements/.
  • Molloy S, Smith R. Advancing human rights in a post-Brexit era: Global Britain or wavering Britain?. London: London School of Economics and Political Science, 2022. Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/advancing-human-rights-post-brexit/.
  • Molloy S, Smith R. Advancing human rights in a post-Brexit era: Global Britain or wavering Britain?. London: London School of Economics and Political Science, 2022. Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/advancing-human-rights-post-brexit/.
  • Molloy S. Advancing Children’s Rights in Peace Processes: What Role for CommCRC?. Edinburgh: PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, University of Edinburgh, 2022. Available at: https://peacerep.org/2022/11/22/advancing-childrens-rights-in-peace-processes-commcrc/.
  • Molloy S, Bell C, Houlihan E, Welikala A, and Zulueta-Fülscher K. Emergency Law Responses and Conflict-Affected States in Transition. Verfassungsblog, 2021. Available at: https://verfassungsblog.de/emergency-law-responses-and-conflict-affected-states-in-transition/.
  • Molloy S, Bell C, Welikala A, Houlihan E, Zulueta-Fülscher K. Emergency law responses and conflict-affected states in transition. Solna, Sweden: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 2021. Available at: https://www.sipri.org/commentary/blog/2021/emergency-law-responses-and-conflict-affected-states-transition.
  • Mallory C, Molloy S. Another setback for truth and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. London: Prospect Publishing Limited, 2021. Available at: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/37644/another-setback-for-truth-and-reconciliation-in-northern-ireland.
  • Molloy S. Unpacking the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s decision in the Loughinisland Case. North East Law Review, 2020. Available at: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/nelrn/2020/07/02/unpacking-the-northern-ireland-court-of-appeals-decision-in-the-loughinisland-cas/.
  • Molloy S. Unexplained Wealth Orders and Reverse Burdens of Proof. Rights NI, 2020. Available at: http://rightsni.org/2020/07/reverse-burdens-of-proof-and-unexplained-wealth-orders/.
  • Molloy s. Sunset Clauses in historical and contemporary usage. Prospect Magazine, 2020. Available at: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/westminster/40142/coronavirus-and-parliament-a-brief-history-of-sunset-clauses.
  • Molloy S. Peace Agreements and Provisions on Persons with Disabilities. University of Edinburgh: PA-X Blog Series, 2020. Available at: https://psrpdev.law.ed.ac.uk/psrpx/2020/03/16/peace-agreements-and-persons-with-disability-mapping-the-relationship/.
  • Molloy S. Human Rights in Africa in the Context of Covid-19. I-Connect, 2020. Available at: https://www.iconnectblog.com/human-rights-in-africa-in-the-context-of-covid-19/.
  • Molloy S, De Vries F. From anti-terrorism legislation to COVID emergency laws: Can sunset clauses live up to their promise? Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, 2020. Available at: https://ials.sas.ac.uk/ials-blog/browse-past-posts/anti-terrorism-legislation-covid-emergency-laws-can-sunset-clauses-live-their-promise#:~:text=Sunset%20clauses%20in%20practice&text=While%20they%20can%20reinject%20democratic,with%20little%20or%20insufficient%20scrutiny..
  • Molloy S. Covid-19, Emergency Legislation and Sunset Clauses. UK Constitutional Law Blog, 2020. Available at: https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2020/04/08/sean-molloy-covid-19-emergency-legislation-and-sunset-clauses/.
  • Molloy S, Smith R, Farran S. Covid-19 and the Right to Water: The Impact of Handwashing Guidance in Atolls with Limited Running Water. Opinio Juris, 2020. Available at: https://opiniojuris.org/2020/08/21/covid-19-and-the-right-to-water-the-impact-of-handwashing-guidance-in-atolls-with-limited-running-water/.
  • Molloy S. Covid-19 and Derogations Before the European Court of Human Rights. Verfassungsblog, 2020. Available at: https://verfassungsblog.de/covid-19-and-derogations-before-the-european-court-of-human-rights/.
  • Molloy S, Farran S. Covid-19 and Constitutional Responses to Emergency: Examining Small Island Developing States. North East Law Review, 2020. Available at: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/nelrn/2020/06/29/covid19/.
  • Molloy S. Breaking international law: the UK is biting off its nose to spite its face. https://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2020/09/14/breaking-international-law-the-uk-is-biting-off-its-nose-to-spite-its-face-dr-sean-molloy/: UK Human Rights Law Blog, 2020.
  • Molloy S, Mallory C. Where Brexit leaves the UK's human rights diplomacy. The Conversation, 2019. Available at: https://theconversation.com/where-brexit-will-leave-the-uks-human-rights-diplomacy-124719.
  • Molloy S. A Note on: In the Matter of an Application by Geraldine Finucane for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland). UK Constitutional Law Blog, 2019. Available at: https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2019/03/06/sean-molloy-a-note-on-in-the-matter-of-an-application-by-geraldine-finucane-for-judicial-review-northern-ireland/.

• Reports

  • Molloy S, Davis J, Erasmus I, Long G, Russell Z. Towards a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill: Recommendations for Policymakers. Scotland: Scottish International Development Alliance, 2025.
  • Molloy S, Mousmouti M, De Vries F. Sunset Clauses and Post-legislative Review: Exploring Potential Connections. London: Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2025. The PLS Series 3.
  • Molloy S. Children and Transitional Justice. Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, 2025. In Preparation.
  • Molloy S. Child Protection Provisions and Peace Agreements. Edinburgh: PeaceRep: The Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform, University of Edinburgh, 2023. PeaceRep : Rethinking peace & transition processes in a changing conflict landscape.
  • Tyrrell H, Krupiy T, Molloy S, Murray C, Mallory C, Kapogianni V, Hollingsworth K, Smith R. Response by the Human Rights and Social Justice Forum to the Human Rights Act Reform: A Modern Bill of Rights Open Consultation. Newcastle university, 2022.
  • Molloy S, McCartney C, Newman C, Griffiths C, Rowe M, Oswald M, Soppitt S, Oxburgh G, Hardisty L, and Dunn C. College of Policing Consultation. Northumbria University, 2022.
  • Molloy S. Emergency Law Responses to Covid-19. Stockholm: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2021.
  • Molloy S. Written Evidence submitted to UK Government’s Integrated Review of international policy. UK Parliament, 2020.
  • Molloy S. Peace Agreements and Persons with Disabilities. University of Edinburgh: Political Settlement Research Programme, 2020. Political Settlement Research Programme.
  • Molloy S. Negotiating States of Emergency: What can we learn from conflict-affected settings?. University of Edinburgh, 2020. Political Settlements Research Programme.
  • Molloy S. Exploring the Relationship between Peace Agreements and the Ratification of International Human Rights Treaties. University of Edinburgh, 2020. Political Settlements Research Programme. Submitted.
  • Molloy S, Mallory C, and Murray C. Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s past: The UK Government's New Proposals. UK Parliament, 2020.
  • Molloy S. Written Evidence submitted to UK progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Voluntary National Review. UK Parliament, 2019.
  • Kilmurray, A, Molloy, S. Trust Funds in Fragile and Conflict-affected States: Lessons from Northern Ireland. Edinburgh: Global Justice Academy, University of Edinburgh, 2019. (Spotlight Series). In Preparation.
  • Molloy S. Peace Agreements and Trust Funds. Ebinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2019. Political Settlements Research Programme.
  • Molloy S, Bell C. How Peace Agreements Provide for Implementation. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2019. Political Settlements Research Programme.
  • Molloy S. Business and Peace Agreements. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2018. Political Settlements Research Programme.
  • Molloy S. Assessing and Influencing Progress in Peace Processes . Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2018. Political Settlements Research Programme.
  • Molloy S. Sub-state constitutions in fragile and conflict-affected settings. 2017. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. In Preparation.
  • Bell C, Anderson R, Forster R, Jaede M, Jamar A, Molloy S, Pospisil J, Welikala A, and Wise R. Navigating Inclusion in Peace Settlements: Human Rights and the Creation of the Common Good. 2020. British Academy Report. In Preparation.

• Research Datasets/Databases

  • Molloy S, Bonnet M, Rasmussen AW, Rodrigues C, Tamaru N, Underwood W. Database on Constitution-Building Processes in Conflict-Affected States. 2025. International IDEA.
  • Bell C, Badanjak S, Farquhar A, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, McNicholl K, Molloy S, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, Wise L. PA-X Peace Agreements Database and Dataset, Version 8. 2024. Edinburgh: PEACEREP University of Edinburgh.
  • Bell C, Badanjak S, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, Molloy S, McNicholl K, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, Wise L. PA-X Peace Agreements Database and Dataset, Version 7. 2024. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.
  • Molloy, S. Children and Youth in Peace Agreements Database. 2023. Newcastle University and University of Edinburgh PEACEREP. In Preparation.
  • Bell C, Badanjak S, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, Molloy S, McNicholl K, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, Wise L. PA-X Peace Agreements Database and Dataset, Version 6. 2022. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.
  • Bell C, Badanjak S, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, Molloy S, McNicholl K, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, and Wise L. PEACE AGREEMENTS DATABASE AND DATASET. 2020. University of Edinburgh.
  • Bell C, Badanjak S, Beaujouan J, Epple T, Forster R, Jamar A, Molloy S, McNicholl K, Nash K, Pospisil J, Wilson R, and Wise L. PA-X Peace Agreements Database and Dataset. 2022. University of Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.

• Working Paper

  • Molloy S. ‘Justice, Rights and Equality: In Search of the Common Good in an Era of Transition’. British Academy Working Paper 2017, 25. Submitted.