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

7 December 2021

Annabel Bassil graduated from our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in 2019. She currently works as a Junior Legal Advisor at Diakonia International Humanitarian Law Centre.

In this role, she supports the delivery of training courses and conducts legal research on international humanitarian law (IHL). Passionate about research, she recently published an article on armed escorts to humanitarian convoys in the International Review of the Red Cross. She previously worked at the European Court of Human Rights as a Legal Trainee.

In this interview, she tells about the programme and what it brought to her career.

What are the Strengths of the Programme?

The programme offers a comprehensive view of the laws applying in or related to armed conflicts. They range from public international law to IHL, international human rights law and international refugee law. I particularly appreciated the fact that the programme allows for critical thinking on those topics. The quality of the courses – which were delivered by the best experts in their respective fields – largely contributed to this positive experience.

The programme also prepares students to face practical global challenges. It often relied on case studies as a learning methodology and offered moot court competitions and internships.

In sum, it is a good combination of theory and practice.

How was Teaching?

The teaching was excellent. As a person who is passionate about learning, my thirst for high-quality legal knowledge was more than satisfied. The pace was intense but thanks to the teamwork that we managed to organize with a group of students, the learning journey was enjoyable.

Your Best Memories of the Programme?

The ties that I formed with my classmates are my best memories of the programme. We were spending most of our time together and I formed memorable relationships. Some of the friends that I met back then are now among my closest friends.

What Did it Bring to your Career?

The LLM was an asset to advance my career because I used my knowledge in the positions that I subsequently worked in.

The alumni community of the programme is also invaluable.

Do you use what you learned in class in your work?

After the LLM, I worked as a Legal Trainee at the European Court of Human Rights. A great portion of my work was directly related to the topics that we discussed at the Geneva Academy. In my role as Junior Legal Advisor at Diakonia IHL Centre, I also use my knowledge of IHL extensively.

Most of all, I learned critical thinking and rigorous analytical skills. I find those skills essential in any career and in life more generally.

Would you Recommend It?

Yes, I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fast-paced, high-quality academic journey in International Law related to armed conflicts.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Participant in a Wayamo Foundation three-day workshop from 5-7 March 2023 on justice and accountability for international crimes and the role of journalists in peace and justice initiatives. News

Students Learn about Transitional Justice Processes on the Ground

23 June 2023

The ‘Voices from the Ground’ series provided a platform for our students to interact with practitioners and activists who contribute to transitional justice (TJ) everyday making.

Read more

Armed Somali men stand guard over-looking Lido Beach 06 August 2012, in the Kaaraan Districtl in the Somali capital Mogadishu. News

New Paper Calls for Entire New Approach to Deal with Young People Associated with Non-State Armed Groups

4 September 2023

Our new Research Paper presents a comprehensive examination of the realities faced by 'Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups'.

Read more

Ruined houses of Borodianka, Ukraine Event

2023 Current Issues in Armed Conflict Conference

26 October 2023

This annual conference co-organized with the University of Essex provides a space for experts and practitioners, diplomats, academics, young scholars and civil society representatives to discuss contemporary legal issues in armed conflict.

Read more

New York City Manhattan with view of Un Headquarters Event

2023 Annual Conference: Connecting Geneva and New York for Enhanced Human Rights Protection

21-24 October 2023

The Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform will take place in New York to explore the links between Geneva and New York, the relevance of Geneva's outputs in New York debates, and the implications for human rights.

Read more

Prison visit by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Haiti Short Course

The Implementation of International Human Rights Law

7-19 December 2023

This online short course aims at presenting the institutions and procedures in charge of the implementation of international human rights law.

Read more

Afghanistan, Parwan detention facility. Inside a room where detainees of the prison, separated by an acrylic glass, are allowed to meet with their families a couple of times per year with the help of the ICRC employees who facilitate the programme. Short Course

Preventing and Combating Terrorism

25 April - 17 May 2024

This online short course discusses the extent to which states may limit and/or derogate from their international human rights obligations in order to prevent and counter-terrorism and thus protect persons under their jurisdiction.

Read more

Neutrotechology Project

Neurotechnology and Human Rights

Started in August 2023

This project addresses the human rights implications stemming from the development of neurotechnology for commercial, non-therapeutic ends, and is based on a partnership between the Geneva Academy, the Geneva University Neurocentre and the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. 

Read more

A session of the UN Human Rights Council Project

IHL Expert Pool

Started in January 2022

The IHL-EP works to strengthen the capacity of human rights mechanisms to incorporate IHL into their work in an efficacious and comprehensive manner. By so doing, it aims to address the normative and practical challenges that human rights bodies encounter when dealing with cases in which IHL applies.

Read more

Cover page of the Working Paper Publication

Exploring Counterterrorism Effectiveness and Human Rights Law

published on September 2023

Gloria Gaggioli, Michael Moncrieff , Ilya Sobol

Read more