Practical Work

Olivier Chamard / Geneva Academy

Our Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law combines high-level academic education with real-world practice. Different parts of the programme allow students to develop the transferable skills necessary to succeed in the professional world and take up responsibilities in the field of transitional justice, human rights and the rule of law.

TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN PRACTICE

During the first semester the cluster ‘Transitional Justice in Practice’ provides students with a combination of in-depth case studies on transitional justice and lectures by transitional justice practitioners. It allows students to deepen their knowledge of transitional justice challenges and provides them with the practical tools for ‘applied transitional justice work’.

EXPOSURE TO LEADING EXPERTS AND PRACTITIONERS

Students gain access to a world-renowned faculty comprising leading transitional justice experts and practitioners coming from institutions, such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) or the Essex Transitional Justice Network. They share with students their field experiences and the situations they address in their work.

TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE CAFéS

This unique series of events exposes our students to practical situations, enabling them to have in-depth discussions with leading experts and practitioners and to develop their networks.

They discuss topical issues and concrete situations in the field of transitional justice like memorialization in Russia and the Balkans, transitional justice initiatives in the Central African Republic, the case of Northern Ireland, the peace agreements in Colombia and Guatemala, armed non-state actors and transitional justice, as well as how transitional justice processes can address disappearances and displacement issues.

Each café is divided into two parts: a presentation followed by a discussion where the guest speaker engages with students on the issues and challenges they raise.

CLINICAL WORK

Clinical Work, in the form of research internships or participation in a moot court, provides students with solid exposure to practical work. It is one of the three Spring Term tracks students can choose during the Spring Semester according to their particular interests (allocation of places in the different tracks is based on a competitive selection process).

Research internships with leading actors like the International Center for Transitional Justice, Impunity Watch or the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, allow selected students to acquire first-hand professional experience and put in practice what they learn in class.

Participation in a moot court allows selected students to get exposure to concrete cases, to plead on topical transitional justice issues and to meet other students from all around the world as well as leading experts and practitioners.