Arwa Bukhtiar

Research Student

Arwa Bukhtiar is affiliated with The Open University Law School and the Centre for Protecting Women Online.

You can email Arwa Bukhtiar directly but for media enquiries, please contact a member of The Open University's Media Relations team.

Biography

My Journey: From Pakistan to the Forefront of Digital Justice Research

As I prepare to embark on my PhD journey in February 2025, I am filled with a sense of purpose and excitement. My name is Arwa Bukhtiar, and my research represents more than an academic pursuit – it is a mission to protect and empower women in our rapidly evolving digital landscape.My academic journey began in Pakistan and found its home in the United Kingdom. Over the past seven years, I have transformed my educational path, starting with my LLB at Brunel University, London, and later completing my LLM at Wolverhampton University. Each step of this journey has been driven by a deep commitment to understanding how law can be a powerful tool for social change.

Current Research

My doctoral research, "Justice in the Digital Age: A Comparative Analysis of Gender-Responsive Legal Approaches to Combat Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls in the EU, UK, and Australia", emerges from a profound personal and professional conviction. As a woman who has navigated multiple cultural contexts, I have witnessed firsthand the vulnerabilities that women face in digital spaces. The motivation behind my research is deeply personal and urgent. Technology-facilitated violence is not just a legal problem – it is a human rights issue that threatens the safety, dignity, and potential of women and girls worldwide. By comparing legal approaches across the EU, UK, and Australia, I aim to:

1. Expose the gaps in current legal frameworks

2. Identify innovative strategies for protection

3. Develop comprehensive, gender-responsive legal approaches

4. Create actionable recommendations for policymakers

My research is more than an academic exercise. It is a bridge between technological advancement and human rights, between legal theory and practical protection. I am driven by the belief that law can be a transformative tool – one that not only prevents harm but actively creates spaces of safety, respect, and empowerment for women in the digital age.

As a Pakistani woman who has made the UK her academic home, I bring a unique perspective to this work. My cross-cultural experience allows me to see beyond singular narratives, to understand the complex, interconnected nature of technology, gender, and justice. In February 2025, I will begin a journey that I hope will contribute to meaningful change. My PhD is not just about earning a degree – it's about creating knowledge that can protect, empower, and transform the lives of women and girls around the world.

This is my commitment. This is my research. This is my purpose.