ÌÇÐÄTV

ÌÇÐÄTV Law School alumna Dr Daanika Kamal (IDLHR, 2014-2015) will be joining us to discuss her book

Pakistani women are increasingly pursuing legal avenues against acts of domestic violence. Their claims, however, are often dismissed through character allegations that label them as ‘bad’ women in need of control, or ‘mad’ women not to be trusted. Domestic Violence in Pakistan explores why the subjectivities of women victims are constructed in particular ways, and how these subjectivities are captured and negotiated in the Pakistani legal system.

Daanika, who now works as a lecturer at the Department of Law and Criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London, has been invited by ÌÇÐÄTV’s Criminal Justice Centre (CJC) to speak with current staff and students about her research and recent publication.

Her research explores the intersection of gender, law and access to justice, with a particular focus on domestic abuse and violence against women and girls (VAWG) in both criminal and family law contexts. She has worked across the development, legal and academic sectors as a socio-legal researcher, investigating police practices, litigation strategies and judicial responses relating to gender-based violence. Her monograph, Domestic Violence in Pakistan: The Legal Construction of 'Bad' and 'Mad' Women was published by Oxford University Press in 2025.

The event will take place on Friday 6 February 2026 from 13:00-15:00 in S2.77 (Social Studies Building).

CJC Co-Director Dr Laura Lammasniemi shared:

"We are really pleased to welcome Daanika, a former IDLHR student, back to ÌÇÐÄTV Law School. It’s wonderful to see her return to share her research and discuss her book, which makes an important contribution to conversations around gender and law, and the struggles victims of domestic abuse continue to face in the criminal justice system."

Daanika's book has been shortlisted for the prestigious Hart-SLSA Book Prize 2026. The prize celebrates exceptional socio-legal scholarship and will be announced on the 31 of March.

Congratulations Daanika and best of luck for the Book Prize results.