LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights: What our Students Say

Portrait of Tamara Aburamadan Portrait of Tamara Aburamadan

16 December 2020

In this interview, Tamara Aburamadan, currently enrolled in our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, tells us about the programme and life in Geneva.

About Me

My name is Tamara and I come from Gaza, Palestine. Before coming to the Geneva Academy, I spent two years in France where I obtained my master’s degree in International and European Law from Université Toulouse 1 Capitole. Right before moving to Geneva, I completed an internship with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in Paris, where I worked in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) desk.

Before that, I have worked for two years in Palestine with different international and local NGOs, such as the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP-UK). I notably documented human rights and humanitarian law violations and helped in providing legal documents to the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor on the Situation in Palestine, in addition to working as a fieldworker during the Great March of Return demonstrations in 2018. I obtained my Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Al-Azhar University in Gaza.

I am passionate about international justice and the application of international human rights and humanitarian law on armed non-state actors in armed conflicts. I am interested in research, debate and legal advocacy work. I love travelling and discovering various cultures. My native language is Arabic, and I speak English, French and a little Hebrew.

Why did you choose the LLM at the Geneva Academy?

Coming from an occupied territory for more than 70 years, I believe it is time for young Palestinians to learn more about international human rights and humanitarian law as well as international criminal law to be able to speak up and advocate for our own rights. The LLM at the Geneva Academy offers a highly exclusive programme with a transversal approach to those issues, where theory meets practice in the most professional manner for students from different backgrounds. Receiving a full scholarship was a crucial step that allowed me to be enrolled in such a prestigious programme.

What are you particularly enjoying about this programme?

The diversity of students is amazing; my classmates come from over 25 different countries with diverse academic backgrounds and professional experiences. I learn a lot from them every day. I am also enjoying each and every class provided by a group of highly qualified professors and teaching assistants, who make theory much more understandable and interesting by sharing their professional experiences in each topic. The Geneva Academy is also active in organizing events to discuss major trends and topics debated in the world, related to international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights. I am particularly enjoying being a member of the Jean Pictet Competition team, where I learn how to implement my knowledge in branches of public international law through role-playing exercises based on a hypothetical armed conflict scenario.

Would you Recommend it?

If you are passionate about all rules applicable to armed conflicts, such as IHL and human rights, I highly recommend this LLM programme. The Geneva Academy is a global pioneer in IHL higher education. This LLM is an innovative and intellectually provocative academic experience that will allow you to grow and expand your knowledge in the field in a focused manner. The LLM provides students with guidance from day one on how to navigate through the year, in addition to teaching assistants who help in each and every step of the way. The programme is extremely intense, but with the passage of each month, you will notice a tremendous growth in your knowledge and experience in the field and it will definitely be worth it.

What are you planning to do next?

The academic and practical skills I am developing at the Geneva Academy will lay the ground for me to acquire a career as a practitioner and expert in the humanitarian field, mainly focusing on the MENA region and other regions affected by armed conflicts.

Why did you choose to be photographed in the Park of the Palais des Nations?

This photo captures a moment where I felt very inspired and motivated after a tour-visit to the UN headquarters building. The LLM being conducted in Geneva offered me with the opportunity to visit many international organizations based in this city, which enriches the experience of studying international law and actually seeing how it functions at the practical level.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Panel panel ‘(Dis)respecting International Humanitarian Law in today’s armed conflicts: monitoring and reporting’ at the 2024 European Humanitarian Forum News

IHL in Focus Featured at the 2024 European Humanitarian Forum

25 March 2024

Our new research project IHL in Focus – launched at the beginning of the year – has been presented and discussed at the 2024 European Humanitarian Forum, a major yearly event convened by the European Union focusing on prominent humanitarian issues and challenges.

Read more

A street in Guayaquil News

Is There a Non-International Armed Conflict in Ecuador?

2 February 2024

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa started the new year by declaring that there is an ‘internal armed conflict’ against a series of criminal groups operating in the country. Our Research Fellow Dr Eugénie Duss, in charge of RULAC, answers our questions about whether the situation in Ecuador amounts to a non-international armed conflict.

Read more

Garment workersto receive food from their factory during lunch time. This food is freely provided by their factory in order to ensure that workers eat healthy and hygienic food. Training

Business and Human Rights

2-6 September 2024

This training course will examine how the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights have been utilized to advance the concept of business respect for human rights throughout the UN system, the impact of the Guiding Principles on other international organizations, as well as the impact of standards and guidance developed by these different bodies.

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

11-15 November 2024

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

Iraq, Mosul. View of the west bank after the war. Project

IHL in Focus

Started in January 2024

As a yearly publication, it keeps decision-makers, practitioners and scholars up-to-date with the latest trends and challenges in IHL implementation in over 100 armed conflicts worldwide – both international and non-international.

Read more

Flyer presenting the Geneva Human Rights Platform with other publications of the Geneva Academy on display Project

GHRP Briefings

Started in January 2019

The GHRP Briefings provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss the results of the United Nations (UN) Treaty Body (TB) 2020 Review and practical ways to implement change.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2023

published on July 2024

Read more