https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32857 2026-10-19T04:58:42Z https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33992 Title: An exploration of the ramification of divorce on international human rights of women in Qatar Authors: Abu-Khadija, Zahiya Abstract: The aim of the study was to explore the effects of divorce on the international human rights of women in Qatar, with a particular focus on domestic abuse. The critical perspective was utilised under both the socio-legal and doctrinal analyses. The critical perspective was informed by several theories identified in the literature review, including Islamic feminism, post-structuralism, and intersectionality. The findings are based on the synthesised analysis of Qatari family law, implementation of human rights of women treaty obligations, reservations to CEDAW, and three original court decisions. The findings reveal that oppression and discrimination of women in Qatar occur on account of a set of five categories of factors - legal, social, cultural, political and economic. The effects of these factors which are systemic, systematic and structural, display intersectionality, such as the role of social and cultural factors on the legal aspects. The analysis of the legal frameworks that govern the family affairs, coupled with laws that sanction discrimination and domestic violence reveals a gap in the extent to which Qatar protects women from discrimination. First, since there are no explicit provisions sanctioning intimate partner violence, the position of the Qatari government against domestic violence is not supported by the existing laws and how those laws are applied to incidences of violence against women. The results are evident from the three judicial decisions, whereby, although emancipation through divorce enabled the female victims to escape domestic abuse, the sanctions imposed on the perpetrators of the violence were insufficient. These legal factors can be attributed to the presence of a socio-culturally constructed patriarchal system, which perpetuates the perspective that men are superiority than women. This power dynamic accounts for the differences in how men and women are treated, both under law and in practice. Within this patriarchy, the interests of women are overlooked in most contexts. Ultimately, while the law provides for women to utilise divorce for emancipation from abusive marriages, there are limitations to this option. Similarly, the analysis of laws relating to citizenship reveals that while Qatari men automatically transmit birth-right citizenship to their children, such an assurance is not available to Qatari women married to non-Native men. The available options for such children to acquire citizenship are through a naturalisation process that features numerous bottlenecks. The provisions have implications on the oppression of Qatari women, who, due to the economic subjugation within the institution of marriage, have to consider their options regarding their ability to survive in the post-divorce period. Second, an analysis of the extent to which Qatar has fulfilled its CEDAW treaty obligations reveals the imposition of reservations, understandings and declarations (RUDs) in at least 5 articles under the treaty provisions. Qatar has adopted a customised RUDs regime, whereby reservations are made with reference to specific components of the provisions under certain articles, rather than the provisions under an entire article. The approach is indicative of the degree to which Qatar is committed to adhering to as much of the provisions as possible. The RUDs are attributed to the incompatibility between the provisions under CEDAW regarding the empowerment of women, as well as their emancipation from discrimination of all forms, and the provisions under Shariah law. Ultimately, considering the integral nature of Shariah law as a component of Qatari law, the most possible outcome in terms of improvement in treaty obligations under CEDAW by Qatar is the quantitative improvement under the provisions that no reservations exist, rather than qualitative improvement through changes to the RUDs regime. Finally, the analysis of judicial decisions regarding the application of the laws to scenarios where Qatari women sought divorce as an emancipation from domestic abuse reveals two key outcomes. On one hand, the existing laws are insufficient to legislate against intimate partner violence, and other forms of abuse of women within the institution of marriage. The lack of willingness for the country to utilise laws that govern violence to bridge the gaps is indicative of the procedural failures in Qatari jurisprudence. On the other hand, the application of Qatari laws for emancipation of women from abusive marriages does not necessarily enable women to enjoy international human rights. The analysis reveals the apparent role of patriarchy in determining what parts of the law to apply, as well as the types of sanctions to impose on the perpetrators in remedying the infringements. However, in spite of the provisions therein, the three cases reveal that the bare minimum protections assured to the parties of a divorce proceedings, specifically towards women can be excluded from the settlement. The findings highlight the ways through which the option of divorce as an emancipation from domestic abuse can end up exposing the woman to additional suffering. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33974 Title: LORD LINDLEY AND THE LITERATURE OF COMPANY LAW Authors: Barnes, Victoria; Reisberg, Arad Abstract: ... Description: ... 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33938 Title: Codeveloping a Set of Quality of Care Indicators for People Living With Multiple Long-Term Conditions in Primary Care: Protocol for a Modified RAND/UCLA Study Authors: Tavares, Sara; Beaney, Thomas; Reisberg, Arad; Henley, Ania; Edwards, Angela; Belsey, David; Downey, Laura Abstract: Background: Quality indicators in primary care remain predominantly disease-specific and professionally defined, with limited incorporation of what matters most to people living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) and their caregivers. Existing frameworks and quality standards provide important conceptual direction, but few produce a pragmatic set of ready-to-use indicators. Objective: This study aims to codevelop a disease-agnostic set of quality of care indicators with people living with MLTCs, caregivers, and health care professionals, including preliminary operational specifications to support future feasibility testing and service improvement in general practices within the National Health Service in England. Methods: This protocol describes a 3-round modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) study. The first round will evaluate the importance of candidate indicators through an online questionnaire to an expert panel of patients, caregivers, and health care professionals. Indicators without agreement or requiring revision will proceed to a structured consensus meeting (round 2) with subsequent rerating rounds (round 3) for feasibility and measurability. Results: As of July 2026, 10 patient and caregiver participants and 12 health care professionals have consented to join an expert panel. The expected RAM study completion, including data analysis and reporting, is early 2027. Fifty-four candidate quality indicators have been generated through triangulation of findings between a scoping review of published quality indicators in MLTCs and a qualitative study with 21 patients and caregivers with lived experience of MLTCs. Ongoing patient and public involvement and engagement with four community partners have further informed the study design, interpretation of multistage findings, and refinement of candidate indicators. The indicators have been mapped to a structure-process-outcome quality framework and will be taken forward into a modified 3-staged RAM study. Conclusions: This study will generate a co-designed and implementation-oriented set of primary care quality indicators for MLTCs. The final indicator set is intended to support future measurement, quality improvement, and later field testing in real-world primary care systems. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/99217 JMIR Res Protoc 2026;15:e99217 Description: Data Availability: The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to confidentiality but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.; Supplementary materials are available online (above the references) at: https://www.researchprotocols.org/2026/1/e99217# . 2026-08-07T00:00:00Z https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33937 Title: The content and processes of patient-derived quality of care indicators for people living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC): A scoping review Authors: Tavares, Sara; Beaney, Thomas; Reisberg, Arad; Henley, Ania; Belsey, David; Edwards, Angela; Downey, Laura E Abstract: Background: The growing prevalence of multiple long-term conditions (MLTC) poses a public health challenge. Existing quality of care (QoC) indicators are poorly suited to the needs of MLTC populations with limited clarity on how quality should be measured. This scoping review aimed to map QoC indicators for MLTC in primary care developed with patient and caregiver input, and to characterise the methods and extent of that involvement. Methods: Scoping review following the six-stage framework by Arksey and O’Malley refined by Levac et al. Searches were conducted on six databases. Studies were included if adults with two or more chronic conditions were involved. Data were charted on indicator content (name, quality domain, data sources, measurement characteristics) and development processes (methodological approaches and stakeholders involved). Where indicators were not specified, qualitative findings were synthesised to identify QoC domains and mapped to the Donabedian model and Institute of Medicine quality domains. Community partners with lived experience of MLTC were involved. Results: Twenty-five studies were included, 78 QoC indicators were identified and a further 33 quality domains were synthesised through thematic analysis. Quality was predominately measured through patient-experience surveys rather than indicators. Studies articulated quality through care processes such as care coordination, shared decision-making and holistic assessments. Outcomes focused on functional capacity, social participation and quality of life. Conclusion: Despite robust evidence on what matters to people living with MLTC, few patient-derived QoC indicators have been developed into measurable indicators. Further work is needed to co-produce indicators suitable to existing primary care settings. Description: Data availability statement: All relevant data are within the paper and its supporting Information files.; Supplementary Material is available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/26335565261451686#supplementary-materials . 2026-05-14T00:00:00Z