Event information

28 September 2020, 18:30-20:00

Opening Lecture: Navigating a Career in International Law

Event

Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for the Crimes Committed in Syria, briefs journalists ahead of the first informal debate on the IIIM. Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for the Crimes Committed in Syria, briefs journalists ahead of the first informal debate on the IIIM.

Catherine Marchi-Uhel initially started working as a young judge handling offenses by juveniles in France. After joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and focusing more on human rights, she came across an opportunity to go to the Former Yugoslavia. From there, she continued to develop her career in international law – at the Yugoslav and Rwandan Tribunals, in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia, as the Ombudsperson to the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, and most recently at the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Core International Crimes Committed in Syria.

Though it may appear linear at first glance, Ms Marchi-Uhel has taken many twists and turns into the unknown. ‘I have always looked at jobs as opportunities for me to learn, to do something different and to hopefully put my skills to the best possible use. You never know exactly what you signed up for until you do it, but it is about being ready to embrace uncertainties and challenges, whether they are legal or of a different nature.’

In this opening lecture of the 2020–2021 academic year, Catherine Marchi-Uhel will share with our students her experience and advice on a career in international law through an interactive discussion.

Attendance

This event is primarily aimed at our incoming students.

External persons can attend this event but exclusively online via this link (passcode: 668157) which will allow them to follow the discussion.

Video

Inaugural lecture of the 2020-2021 Academic Year

Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism on international crimes committed in Syria, will shared with our students her experience on a career in international law.

 

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

GHRP Ai for Good Workshop News

Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Human Rights Monitoring: Key Takeaways from the AI for Good Workshop

22 July 2025

Our event brought together human rights practitioners, data scientists, and AI experts to explore how artificial intelligence can support efforts to monitor human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Read more

neurotech image News

Human Rights Concerns in Neurotechnology Examined in New Research Brief

15 April 2025

Our research brief 'Neurotechnology - Integrating Human Rights in Regulation' examines the human rights challenges posed by the rapid development of neurotechnology.

Read more

Special Rapporteur Sign Event

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in an Era of Escalating Armed Conflict: Where Can International Human Rights Law Help?

25 September 2025, 18:30-20:00

This evening dialogue will present the publication: International Human Rights Law: A Treatise, Cambridge University Press (2025).

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

10-14 November 2025

This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

Plastic pollution on an Italian shore Project

Unpacking the Human Right to a Healthy Environment: Definition, Implementation and Impact

Started in January 2022

This research aims at mainstreaming the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the protection it affords in the work of the UN Human Rights Council, its Special Procedures and Universal Periodic Review, as well as in the work of the UN General Assembly and UN treaty bodies.

Read more

Online folders Project

Digital Human Rights Tracking Tools and Databases

Started in March 2023

This initiative wishes to contribute to better and more coordinated implementation, reporting and follow-up of international human rights recommendations through a global study on digital human rights tracking tools and databases.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more