Dr. Birgit Feldtmann

Biography

Birgit Feldtmann's research focuses broadly on criminal law and often traverses the intersection of national regulation, international law, and human rights. Her primary research interest has been on law enforcement at sea, particularly leading the Danish research project 'Policing Sea (PolSEA)', which explores how maritime law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, functions as a framework for maritime law enforcement activities against piracy and in the context of the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. She also examines the legal framework of warfare at sea and participates in an expert group revising the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. In 2022, as principal investigator, she initiated the research project 'Punitive Turn; Danish Style', analyzing the criminal law development in Denmark over a 40-year period, supported by Dreyers Fond and involving a team of lawyers and criminologists. Additionally, Feldtmann addresses various legal issues that often extend beyond the national perspective, including jurisdiction and children's rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. She co-authored a textbook on basic criminal law and another on international law. Her expertise is utilized by external bodies, and she has participated for Denmark in discussions regarding Somali piracy and serves as a technical expert at DIGNITY – Danish Institute Against Torture. Feldtmann is also a member of the Police Complaints Council and the board of the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

Research Interests

Experience