Dr Karen Bennett is a part-time Lecturer in Securing Human Rights at the School of Advanced Study, University of London. Karen’s research interests are in human rights cosmopolitanism and the effectiveness of transnational networks as mechanisms for human security, especially in the areas of security and protection for human rights defenders and civil society actors. Karen has worked with multilateral organisations, research institutes, government and non-governmental organisations on a wide range of human rights themes. She has developed research projects and led training programmes in Asia, Africa and Europe, in partnership with civil society individuals and groups. Karen received her PhD in Human Rights at London Metropolitan University, where she served as Director of the Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute from 2013 - 2016. She has an MA degree in International Relations from the American University School of International Service and BA degree in International Communications from Webster University.