16 December 2019
In this interview, Melina Fidelis-Tzourou, who is enrolled in our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (LLM), tells us about the programme and life in Geneva.
I’m Melina and I come from Greece. I have a Law Degree and before coming to Geneva I was working as a legal trainee at a military law firm. My favourite thing in the world is coffee.
I have always wanted to study international humanitarian law (IHL) and my professors told me that the LLM at the Geneva Academy is unparalleled in this field, especially because I was interested in a career in the humanitarian field.
I think the strength of the programme lies in its multidisciplinary approach to international law in armed conflict via an in-depth study of public international law, IHL, international criminal law, international human rights law and international refugee law in our core courses. This particular structure has definitely given me a more comprehensive and far-reaching understanding of IHL, which I believe is extremely useful for my professional development.
After completing this programme I would like to work in the field of IHL, either with an NGO or with some other institution. Human rights litigation is also an interesting option. The good thing with the LLM at the Geneva Academy is that it opens the door to various professional opportunities, so I intend to explore my options and hope for the best!
This is the first spot I reach on the lake when walking from my house. All of a sudden this beautiful lakeside scenery appears, while just seconds before you were surrounded by cement and concrete. From specific angles, you even forget you are in a city at all. I like this momentary escapism.
ICRC
Ten alumni – six from our LLM in IHL and Human Rights and two from our MAS in Transitional Justice – published an article in the new edition of the International Review of the Red Cross that features emerging voices in the field of humanitarian law, policy and action.
Geneva Academy
Professor Marco Sassòli has been appointed as one of three experts on a mission to investigate violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine for the OSCE.
Markus Spiske, Unsplash
This online bilingual workshop, held in English and Italian, aims to raise awareness about the upcoming changes to the European Union (EU) seed marketing legislation and what this reform means in the Italian context.
Canva
This event will discuss how governments, civil society and international mechanisms can work together to keep the pressure on long-term detention cases and improving respect for defenders’ rights and physical integrity while imprisoned.
Dustan Woodhouse, Unplash
This training course will explore the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as with their implementation and enforcement mechanisms; and provide practical insights into the different UN human rights mechanisms pertinent to advancing environmental issues and protecting environmental human rights defenders.
UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
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.
UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré