School of Social Sciences

Bio

Dr Monique Emser is an expert in complex crimes specialising in human trafficking and counter-trafficking governance. She holds a BA and BA Hons from the University of Natal (UND), an MA from the Hochschule Bremen (Germany), and a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). With over 15 years of experience in counter-trafficking research and practice, Dr Emser’s work addresses interrelated issues including gender-based violence, missing persons, migration, organised crime, deviant globalisation, unconventional security threats, and human rights. Dr Emser actively contributes to both international and local efforts to combat human trafficking. Internationally, she serves as an advisory member on the G-100 Women’s Anti-Human Trafficking Wing for South Africa and is part of Mission 89’s International Scientific Research Committee. Locally, she is a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Human Trafficking Task Team, the KwaZulu-Natal Anti-Trafficking Coalition, and the National Freedom Network. Dr Emser across the Political Science and Social Policy programmes. Dr Emser facilitates the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law module for the Social Policy coursework programme.