Philip’s research interests focus on economic and social rights of vulnerable groups, such as older persons and women in developing countries.
He disseminates his research outputs through academic publications, presentations at conferences and public engagement with relevant government officials, policy makers and the media.
As a researcher, Philip has served as an Expert Panellist at the International Day of Older Persons Celebration organised by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons , and the University of Pretoria. Through media and policy engagements, Philip has advised African governments on ratification and implementation strategies on the African Union’s Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons.
Philip is a former Deputy Convenor of the Birmingham Law School’s Human Rights, Development and Global Legal Studies Research Group. He has acted as a Peer Reviewer for several Law Journals, including the University of Oxford Human Rights Hub Journal, SAGE’s Environmental Law Review, Taylor and Francis’ Commonwealth Law Bulletin and Lagos State University Law Journal.
Philip welcomes research proposals from potential PhD candidates who are interested in undertaking research within his areas of expertise.
Philip currently supervises the following PhD students:
- Mo Esan, ‘AWSA: Investigating the History, Text and Implementation of the Animal Welfare Strategy for Africa through the lens of Third World Approaches to International Law’
- Abbiba Princewill, ‘A Comparative Analysis of the Implementation of Children’s Right to Education in Nigeria and the United Kingdom’
- Ugochi Chianu, ‘Legal Accountability for AI-Assisted Decision-Making: Rethinking the Duty of Care in High-Risk Sectors’.
Access Philip’s publications on Google Scholar.
Philip’s other research activities include:
Conference and Seminar Paper Presentations
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‘Artificial Intelligence, Socioeconomic Rights and the Just Energy Transition: A Rights-Based Framework for Equitable Energy Governance’ presented at the Durham Energy Law and Sustainability Conference at Durham University on 3-4 September 2026.
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‘An Assessment of the Impact of AI on Women's Rights’ presented at BCU’s AI@BCU Conference on 19 June 2026.
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'Softwarisation and Datafication of Human Affairs: Taking Socioeconomic Rights Seriously in the Artificial Intelligence Era’ presented at the Summer Research Workshop of the Economic and Social Rights Academic Network - United Kingdom and Ireland (ESRAN-UKI) at the University of Exeter on 04 June 2026.
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'Sustainable Development Goal Seven: Energy Poverty and the Rights of Older Persons' presented at the Energising Sustainable Development Workshop at the University of Huddersfield on 29 August 2025 (SLS-SUPPORTED EVENT Workshop: Energising Sustainable Development - A Review of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 - Society of Legal Scholars).
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‘Energy Poverty and Socioeconomic Rights: Framing Energy as a Human Rights Issue’ presented at the 4th Durham Energy Disputes Conference at Durham University on 11-12 July 2025 (4th Durham Energy Disputes Conference 11–12 July 2025 - Durham University).
- 'Taxation and the Realisation of Socioeconomic Rights in Africa: What is the Role of International Cooperation?' presented at the Research Workshop of the Economic and Social Rights Academic Network United Kingdom and Ireland (ESRAN-UKI) at the University of Essex (February 2024).
- Feminisation of Ageing and Socioeconomic Rights Realisation: What Hope for African Older Women? By Dr Philip Oamen - School of Law | Birmingham City University (bcu.ac.uk).
- ‘Digital Ageism: Is Artificial Intelligence Promoting or Undermining the Rights of Older Persons?’, presented at the Exploring the Intersections between Law and Artificial Intelligence Workshop, Nottingham Trent University (September 2023).
- ‘Older Persons' Rights and Mental Health Law in Africa and Europe: A Comparative Approach' presented at the annual conference of the Society of Legal Scholars, Oxford Brookes University (June 2023).
- 'Artificial Intelligence and Legal Practice: Repositioning for Society's Evolving Trends' presented at the Nigerian Bar Association (Bwari Branch) Webinar (May 2023).
- ‘Short Term, Mid-term and Long Term Interventions that can be adopted by Countries that have Ratified the Older Persons’ Protocol to Improve Living Conditions of Older Persons’ at an African Commission and University of Pretoria’s Webinar to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (October 2021).
- ‘The Impact of Covid-19 on the Socio-economic Rights of Older Persons in Africa: The Urgency of Operationalizing the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons’ (with Eghosa O. Ekhator) at the Conference marking the 40th Anniversary of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (July 2021).
- ‘Rights to Healthcare in Nigeria: Innovations for Courts’ presented at the annual meeting of the Law and Society Association, Washington DC (May/June 2019)
Philip has provided expert advice to African Governments and policymakers under the auspices of the African Commission Working Group on Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities in collaboration with the University of Pretoria.
