Lesley Emerson is a Lecturer in Education and Deputy Director of the Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s University Belfast. Her research is focused currently on two themes: the role of former combatants in education for citizenship in conflict affected and transitional societies; and children and young people’s participation rights in school and community. In particular she is interested in exploring how schools assist young people in understanding the nature of conflict and conflict transformation and support them in navigating the complex political contours of conflicted societies. Lesley is also involved in initial teacher education, coordinating the post-graduate pathway in Social Sciences, and in Master’s and doctoral programmes associated with her research interests.