Rebecca Thorburn Stern
Professor at Department of Law; Professors, Instructors, Researchers
- Telephone:
- +46 18 471 74 32
- Mobile phone:
- +46 70 868 78 05
- E-mail:
- Rebecca.Stern@jur.uu.se
- Visiting address:
- Trädgårdsgatan 20
SE-753 09 Uppsala
Sweden - Postal address:
- Box 512
751 20 UPPSALA
- CV:
- Download CV
Short presentation
Professor of Public International Law. My main research areas include human rights, particularly children's rights, migration law, and the relationship between international law and domestic law. Co-founder of the GL/UMIN network on migration law. From 2022 to 2024, I served as the Research Director for the Uppsala Forum for Democracy, Peace, and Justice. 2024 to 2027, I am a Visiting Professor of Human Rights at Lund University, and also affiliated with the Institute for Futures Studies.
Keywords
- human rights
- childrens rights
- child rights
- asylum law
- implementation
- international law
- migration law
- public international law
- human rights law
- refugee law
Biography
Please see the CV attached.
Research
Ongoing research projects (selected)
Status and stability. An examination of the importance of time in Swedish asylum and citizenship legislation. Funded by the Swedish Research Council 2024-2027. For more information, please visit https://www.iffs.se/en/research/research-projects/status-and-stability/
Treated Like a Child: Children and Age Discrimination Law in Sweden and the UK
Funded by the Ragnar Söderberg Foundation. 2020-2023.
Is there consistency in evaluation of sexual orientation and gender identity refugee cases?
Funded by Forte.2021-2025. For more information, see https://kultgeog.uu.se/forskning/forskningsprojekt/cares/
Medical evidence in asylum procedures
Funded by Nordforsk (2021-2025). For more information, see https://www.nordforsk.org/sv/projects/nordic-refugee-determination-advancing-data-science-migration-law-nordasil.
GAPS - De-centring the Study of Migrant Returns and Readmission Policies in Europe and Beyond
Funded through Horizon-Europe (2023-2026).
Previous research projects (selected):
The Convention on the Rights of the Child as domestic law: does it make a difference for children seeking asylum? Funded by the Ragnar Söderberg Foundation (2016-2022).
- Implementation of Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child - how is this adressed and explained by State parties and the CRC Committee? Partly financed by the Stockholm Centre for the Rights of the Child, Stockholm University. (2015-2017)
- Is it for real? Testing the genuine nature of a conviction or orientation in the context of the asylum process. Funded by the European Refugee Fund and the Swedish Migration Agency. (2013-2015)
- Overlapping protection or conflicting rules? A study of the concept of subsidiary protection in the context of Swedish law, EU law and international law. Funded by the Swedish Research Council. (2010-2012)
- What does it take to be granted protection and which protection ground should be selected? Funded by the European Refugee Fund and the Swedish Migration Agency. (2010-2011).

Publications
Recent publications
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The role of medical evidence certifying PTSD for legal outcomes in Swedish asylum cases 2016–2020
Part of Social Science and Medicine, 2026
- DOI for The role of medical evidence certifying PTSD for legal outcomes in Swedish asylum cases 2016–2020
- Download full text (pdf) of The role of medical evidence certifying PTSD for legal outcomes in Swedish asylum cases 2016–2020
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The Role and Meaning of Time in European Migration Law
Part of European Public Law, p. 291-304, 2025
- DOI for The Role and Meaning of Time in European Migration Law
- Download full text (pdf) of The Role and Meaning of Time in European Migration Law
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The Devil is in the Details(?): Age-based Discrimination of Children in the Context of Migration
Part of Treated Like a Child, p. 202-225, Brill Academic Publishers, 2025
- DOI for The Devil is in the Details(?): Age-based Discrimination of Children in the Context of Migration
- Download full text (pdf) of The Devil is in the Details(?): Age-based Discrimination of Children in the Context of Migration
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Treated Like a Child: Age Discrimination and Children's Rights
Brill Academic Publishers, 2025
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Part of Läkartidningen, 2025
All publications
Articles in journal
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The role of medical evidence certifying PTSD for legal outcomes in Swedish asylum cases 2016–2020
Part of Social Science and Medicine, 2026
- DOI for The role of medical evidence certifying PTSD for legal outcomes in Swedish asylum cases 2016–2020
- Download full text (pdf) of The role of medical evidence certifying PTSD for legal outcomes in Swedish asylum cases 2016–2020
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The Role and Meaning of Time in European Migration Law
Part of European Public Law, p. 291-304, 2025
- DOI for The Role and Meaning of Time in European Migration Law
- Download full text (pdf) of The Role and Meaning of Time in European Migration Law
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Part of Läkartidningen, 2025
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Introduction: The Role and Meaning of Time in European Migration Law
Part of European Public Law, 2025
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Part of Nordic Journal of International Law, p. 17-43, 2022
- DOI for Great Expectations? Some Thoughts on the Impact of Incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child for Asylum-seeking Children in the Nordic Countries
- Download full text (pdf) of Great Expectations? Some Thoughts on the Impact of Incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child for Asylum-seeking Children in the Nordic Countries
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Part of Nordic Journal of International Law, p. 419-452, 2022
- DOI for The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 2 and Discrimination on the Basis of Childhood: The CRC Paradox?
- Download full text (pdf) of The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 2 and Discrimination on the Basis of Childhood: The CRC Paradox?
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Innebörden av ”svenskt konventionsåtagande”: svårare att tolka än man tror
Part of Svensk Juristtidning, p. 120-136, 2020
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Incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in National Law
Part of The International Journal of Children's Rights, p. 133-156, 2020
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Part of The International Journal of Children's Rights, p. 266-305, 2019
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When the ends justify the means?: Quality of law-making in times of urgency
Part of The theory and practice of legislation, p. 85-100, 2019
- DOI for When the ends justify the means?: Quality of law-making in times of urgency
- Download full text (pdf) of When the ends justify the means?: Quality of law-making in times of urgency
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Part of Upsala nya tidning, 2018
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Dubbla budskap om barns rättigheter
Part of Svenska dagbladet, 2016
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"Our Refugee Policy is Generous": Reflections on the Importance of a State's Self-Image
Part of Refugee Survey Quarterly, p. 25-43, 2014
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At a crossroads? Reflections on the right to asylum for European Union citizens
Part of Refugee Survey Quarterly, p. 54-83, 2014
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Hur bedöms ett skyddsbehov? Om gränsdragning, konsekvens och förutsägbarhet i svensk asylpraxis.
Part of Svensk Juristtidning, p. 282-299, 2012
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Folkrättens roll i vägledande migrationsrättslig praxis
Part of Svensk Juristtidning, p. 358-376, 2010
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Rätten till deltagande enligt FN:s barnkonvention
Part of Nordic Journal of Human Rights, p. 17-28, 2007
Books
Chapters in book
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The Devil is in the Details(?): Age-based Discrimination of Children in the Context of Migration
Part of Treated Like a Child, p. 202-225, Brill Academic Publishers, 2025
- DOI for The Devil is in the Details(?): Age-based Discrimination of Children in the Context of Migration
- Download full text (pdf) of The Devil is in the Details(?): Age-based Discrimination of Children in the Context of Migration
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Article 16 1951 Convention: (Access to Courts/Droit d’Ester en Justice)
Part of The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. A Commentary, p. 1105-1126, Oxford University Press, 2024
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Part of The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. A Commentary, p. 841-866, Oxford University Press, 2024
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Article 22 1951 Convention: (Public Education/Education Publique)
Part of The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. A Commentary, p. 1201-1226, Oxford University Press, 2024
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Article 9 1951 Convention: (Provisional Measures/Mesures Provisoires)
Part of The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. A Commentary, p. 867-890, Oxford University Press, 2024
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Folkrätten i svensk migrationsrätt
Part of Folkrätten i svensk rätt, p. 199-218, Studentlitteratur AB, 2024
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Part of Migrants' Rights, Populism and Legal Resilience in Europe, p. 330-354, Cambridge University Press, 2022
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Part of Swedish Legal System, Norstedts Juridik AB, 2022
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Incorporating the CRC in Sweden
Part of Incorporating the UN Convention in the Rights of the Child into National Law, p. 205-230, Intersentia, 2021
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Kommunerna, barnkonventionen och barnet som rättighetsbärare
Part of Mänskliga rättigheter i det lokala Sverige, p. 121-142, Studentlitteratur AB, 2021
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Etiska avvägningar i pandemitider
Part of I en tid av pandemi, p. 59-72, Expertgruppen för studier i offentlig ekonomi, Finansdepartementet, 2021
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Part of Barnkonventionen i praktiken, p. 51-72, Norstedts Juridik AB, 2020
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The image of the vulnerable child in recent ECtHR and CRC Committee case law
Part of European Yearbook on Human Rights, p. 233-255, Intersentia, 2020
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Om barn som migranter och som barn
Part of Barn, migration och integration i en utmanande tid, p. 159-171, Ragulka Press, 2019
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Part of The New Asylum and Transit Countries in Europe During and in the Aftermath of the 2015/2016 Crisis, p. 233-262, Brill Academic Publishers, 2018
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Vem får ta del av kakan? Om migranter, rättigheter och solidaritet
Part of Socialrätt under omvandling: om solidaritet och välfärdsstatens gränser, p. 192-223, Liber, 2018
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Rättigheter för var och en? Om medborgarskap och territoriella gränser
Part of Mänskliga rättigheter i det offentliga Sverige, p. 168-178, Studentlitteratur AB, 2017
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Part of Migrationsrätt, p. 59-89, Liber, 2016
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Bedömning av trovärdighet i asylärenden - en forskningsöversikt
Part of Migrationsrätt, Liber, 2016
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Religion, sexuell läggning, trovärdighet och genuinitet - det rättsliga ramverket
Part of Migrationsrätt, Liber, 2016
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Vägledning i asylmål - en jämförelse mellan Sverige och England
Part of Migrationsrätt, p. 18-58, Liber, 2016
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Bedömningar utan lagligt facit - forskning om genuinitet, religion och sexualitet i asylärenden
Part of Migrationsrätt, Liber, 2016
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Part of Child-friendly Justice, Brill Academic Publishers, 2015
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Part of Barnrätt, p. 408-420, Norstedts Juridik AB, 2014
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Part of Makt, myndighet, människa, p. 21-55, Iustus förlag, 2014
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Folkrätten i svensk migrationsrätt - en resurs som utnyttjas?
Part of Folkrätten i svensk rätt, p. 37-57, Liber, 2012
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Foreign law in Swedish judicial decision-making: still a rare occurrence.
Part of The Limits of Transnational Law, p. 186-203, Cambridge University Press, 2010
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Skyddsbehövande i övrigt: ett svårtolkat begrepp?
Part of Asylsökande i Sverige, p. 146-169, Malmö universitet, 2010
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Part of Mänskliga rättigheter - juridiska perspektiv, p. 293-321, Liber, 2010
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Tankar kring barnkonventionens artikel 12: Rätten till deltagande
Part of Barn och rätt, p. 181-189, Iustus förlag, 2004
Collections (editor)
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Treated Like a Child: Age Discrimination and Children's Rights
Brill Academic Publishers, 2025
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The Role and Meaning of Time in European Migration Law
Kluwer Law International, 2025
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Studentlitteratur AB, 2024
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Folkrätten i svensk rätt: Ett nytt decennium
Studentlitteratur AB, 2024
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Liber, 2012
Conference papers
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ERPUM and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
p. 15-23, 2013
Monograph doctoral thesis
Reports
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2025
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2025
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2024
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Remissyttrande: Förbättrad ordning och säkerhet vid förvar (SOU 2024:5) JURFAK 2024/2
2024
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Legal and Policy Infrastructures of Returns in the EU - Comparative Report (WP2)
2024
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2024
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EU:s migrationspakt: vart är unionen på väg?
2021
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Remissyttrande: En långsiktigt hållbar migrationspolitik (SOU 2020:54)(Ju2020/03215) JURFAK 2020/68
2020
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2020
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Temporary asylum and cessation of refugee status in Scandinavia: Problems, processes and dilemmas
2020
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2019
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2011
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Barnkonventionens status. En utvärdering av för- och nackdelar om barnkonventionen som svensk lag.
2011
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2008
Other
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2024
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JP Infonet Lagkommentar, utlänningslagens kap. 4 Flyktingar och andra skyddsbehövande
2024
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Part of Juridisk Tidskrift, p. 749-753, 2018
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Part of Common market law review, p. 1656-1658, 2018
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Repliker. Inget stöd i forskningen för påståendena.
2017
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Inget stöd i forskningen för påståeendena
2017
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Responses to the "refugee crisis": What is the role of self-image among EU countries?
2016
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2013
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2013