Our 2025 Student Study Trips to Kosovo and Armenia

Students enrolled in our full-time MAS Programmes have the opportunity to undertake study trips to compliment their studies at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Organised by the students themselves,  with support from our Head of Education and the Student Office, they aim to visit a country or region where they can witness first hand how the theory they learn in the classroom is globally put into practice.

In 2025 the groups travelled to Kosovo and Armenia, introducing students to the political, legal, and societal realities of post-conflict recovery and accountability processes, while fostering reflection on the complexities of implementing humanitarian law, advancing justice, and preserving memory.

‘Engaging directly with survivors, practitioners, and civil society revealed that justice is a lived and evolving process grounded in memory and dignity.‘
— Faith Mkuluchi (Zimbabwe)

Kosovo – Exploring a Post-Conflict LANDSCAPE

At the start of June a group of 36 students from the MAS in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law travelled to Kosovo for a week-long study trip that explored the country’s post-conflict landscape, efforts to preserve memory, and ongoing initiatives to strengthen justice and human rights. Through meetings with local and international actors, visits to memorial sites, and exchanges with practitioners, students gained insight into the practical challenges of accountability and reconciliation in a post-war society.

Highlights included:

• A visit to the Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo memorial, dedicated to children killed or disappeared during the war, exploring documentation of war crimes and preservation of memory.
• Meetings with the Kosovo Women’s Network to learn about advocacy for gender equality, support for survivors of violence, and structural reform efforts.
• An immersive tour of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network ‘reporting house’, combining multimedia, photographs, and survivor testimonies to illustrate the role of investigative journalism in truth-seeking.
• Engagements with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, focusing on human rights promotion, minority inclusion, and the challenges of implementing transitional justice in a politically sensitive environment.
• A visit to the Youth Initiative for Human Rights – Kosovo to explore youth-led reconciliation initiatives and memory projects addressing generational trauma.

The trip concluded with a day of informal exploration around Pristina and neighbouring North Macedonia, giving students time to reflect on the week’s experiences. The visits collectively illustrated how Kosovo continues to confront its past, support affected communities, and build foundations for justice and social cohesion.

‘Kosovo was one of those experiences that shapes you deeply… This trip showed me what hope in a post-conflict society looks like.’
— Jesús Maya (Mexico)

Armenia – Legal and Humanitarian Dimensions of Conflict

During the first week of July, 20 students from the LLM-MAS in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights travelled to Yerevan, Armenia, to explore legal, humanitarian, and political challenges linked to the region’s conflicts — in particular the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Students met with humanitarian organizations, government actors, civil society, and academic institutions, gaining insight into how international humanitarian law, human rights law, and transitional justice are applied in ongoing and post-conflict settings.

Highlights included:

• A visit to the EU Mission at the Armenia–Azerbaijan Border, which monitors military activities and serves as a diplomatic contact point
• Meetings with the ICRC Delegation in Armenia, with discussions on the enforcement of IHL protections for prisoners of war
• A tour of the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy, where students learned about IHL dissemination within the Armenian military
• Exchanges with civil society and lawyers working on international mechanisms for justice and reparations
• Conversations with senior government officials, including the Minister of Justice, the International Law Division, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs
• A visit to the Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute, engaging with researchers on memory, documentation, and recognition

The trip concluded with an informal gathering hosted by the Armenian International Law Association, offering students the chance to connect with local young professionals.

‘Witnessing firsthand the work of local and international actors offered invaluable insight into post-conflict recovery and justice.’
— Additiya Mukherjee (India)

A Unique Opportunity to Link Theory and Practice

Dr Clotilde Pégorier, Head of Education at the Geneva Academy, noted, ‘Both study trips embody the Geneva Academy’s commitment to connecting rigorous academic training with real-world engagement. By meeting with practitioners, institutions, and affected communities, students gained essential perspectives that will inform their future work in humanitarian protection, human rights advocacy, accountability and transitional justice. These experiences highlight the importance of interdisciplinary understanding, empathy, and critical reflection — qualities essential for those working to advance justice and human dignity in complex contexts.’

She added, ‘I would also like to highlight how wonderful it is to see these groups undertaking the arrangement of the trips in such a serious and considered manner. The depth and quality of the visits they have been able to organize in such a short timeframe is extremely impressive, and I congratulate them all!’