LLM in IHL and Human Rights: What our Students Say

My name is Antonia, I’m half French and half German. Two years ago, I graduated with a Master's degree in Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Aid from Sciences Po Lille (France), where I specialized in humanitarian project management.

As an intern at the French representation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), I worked on the human rights aspects of the conflicts in Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh, specifically on different challenges such as the protection of civilians, press freedom and gender issues. I then joined the International Humanitarian Law Unit of the French Red Cross as a junior legal advisor, where I was involved in the dissemination and promotion of IHL to military and civilian audiences.

Outside of work, I am a passionate spikeball player and enjoy as well hiking and swimming!

The LLM at the Geneva Academy is for me the opportunity to deepen my legal knowledge and develop my understanding of humanitarian issues through the prism of international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law. I chose to join the Geneva Academy for the uniqueness and rich cross-disciplinary aspects of its programme.

What I am most passionate about is understanding how, by acquiring in-depth knowledge of IHL, human rights law and refugee law, one can use these tools to enhance the protection of civilians and the promotion of humanitarian norms. All courses echo each other, and I find their interplay really fascinating.

I recommend this programme to those who wish to devote a very intense year to these crucial issues. By far one of the greatest strengths of the Geneva Academy is the quality of the teaching and personal supervision from experts. Furthermore, it is the opportunity to meet and learn from students from all around the world: we have 24 nationalities represented in the LLM this year.

After the LLM, I would like to work for the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, in an NGO, either based in the headquarters or in the field. My interests lie in the Sahel region and particularly in engaging with non-state armed groups for the promotion of IHL.

I'm on the bridge that leads to the Bains des Pâquis, a real tradition in Geneva! We go there in the summer to swim in the splendid lake, in the winter to eat a fondue... And all year round to admire the view of the Mont-Blanc.