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

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.