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Tahneet Irshad
Barrister
Tahneet commenced a shortened pupillage with Spire Barristers in July 2019. Upon completion of her pupillage, Tahneet looks forward to complementing her career in International Children Rights and Human Rights Law by practising in the area of Children Private Law and Child Care Public Law at the UK bar. In addition, Tahneet has a strong interest in advocating for and upholding the human rights of children within the UK Public Law system.
Having attained a B.Sc. (Hons) in Business Administration and an LL.B. in Laws, Tahneet commenced her legal career as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales (2011) at Holman Fenwick Willan LLP, a leading international law firm in London. Concurrently, Tahneet was a pro bono Solicitor at Morden Legal Advice Centre, advising clients on employment and housing issues.
Tahneet was called to the Bar in October 2018. Prior to qualifying at the Bar, Tahneet completed an LL.M. in Human Rights Law, specialising in the International Law on the Rights of the Child under the tutelage of Prof. Geraldine Van Bueren QC, one of the drafters of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (UNCRC 1989).
Tahneet was placed on the United Nations Young Professionals Programme for Legal Affairs and has worked with both the Human Rights Team of UNICEF Geneva and the Child Protection Team of UNICEF Bangladesh.
During her time at UNICEF Geneva, Tahneet ensured compliance of State Party (governmental) reports pursuant to art. 44 of the UNCRC 1989, prior to the review of governments before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC). Tahneet also engaged with NGOs, international organisations, and members of the UN CRC in discussions relating to the legal interpretation of the child’s right to a healthy environment; and advocated for the rights of children in Libya and Sudan (video links below) before the Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
Libya:
http://webtv.un.org/geneva-press-briefing-unicef-wmo-iom-unhcr/3470424850001/watch/id-contd-on-technical-assistance-to-libya-35th-meeting-30th-regular-session-human-rights-council/4517675632001/ – @ 2 mins 22 secs
Sudan:
http://webtv.un.org/geneva-press-briefing-unicef-wmo-iom-unhcr/3470424850001/watch/id-contd-human-rights-in-sudan-36th-meeting-30th-regular-session-human-rights-council/4518479690001/ – @ 30 mins 33 secs
Tahneet was contracted by the Child Protection Team of UNICEF Bangladesh to support the Hon. Justice Md. Imman Ali, the senior-most judge of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, Appellate Division and Chair to the Supreme Court Special Committee on Child Rights. During this period, Tahneet primarily worked on child detention issues and the out-rolling of a child-friendly juvenile system as per Bangladesh’s Children Act 2013 (which has been harmonised with the UNCRC 1989).
Tahneet has also been a Marshal to the UK Supreme Court Family Judge, the Hon. Mr Justice Moor at the Royal Courts of Justice, London.
Public Law Children
Private Law Family
Domestic Abuse And Injunctions
International Children
Bar Human Rights Committee
The European Circuit
Association of Lawyers for Children
Family Law Bar Association