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

neurotech image News

Human Rights Concerns in Neurotechnology Examined in New Research Brief

15 April 2025

Our research brief 'Neurotechnology - Integrating Human Rights in Regulation' examines the human rights challenges posed by the rapid development of neurotechnology.

Read more

Geneva Academy Briefing No.25 News

New Academy Briefing Calls for Stronger Engagement of Local and Regional Governments in Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

11 March 2025

The Geneva Academy’s latest publication explores how cities, municipalities, and regional authorities are becoming key players in global human rights governance.

Read more

Warzone Event

Advanced IHL Seminar for Academics and Policymakers

25-29 August 2025, 09:00-17:30

Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.

Read more

Event

Strengths and Challenges of Inter-State Applications Before the European Court of Human Rights

22 May 2025, 18:30-20:00

In this Geneva Academy Talk Judge Lətif Hüseynov will discuss the challenges of inter-State cases under the ECHR, especially amid rising conflict-related applications.

Read more

Training

Human Rights and the Environment: Introducing Legal Regimes and Key Issues

1-8 September 2025

Participants in this training course will be introduced to the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as international environmental law and its implementation and enforcement mechanisms.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Booklet Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

7-11 July 2025

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

First annual conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform Project

The Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

Started in June 2019

Read more

surveillance image of people Project

Human Rights in a Digitalized World: Mapping Risk, Strengthening Regulation and Promoting the Development of International Human Rights Law

Started in August 2023

To unpack the challenges raised by artificial intelligence, this project will target two emerging and under-researched areas: digital military technologies and neurotechnology.

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more

Cover page of the working paper Publication

AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

published on January 2025

Milica Mirkovic, Jennifer Victoria Scurrell

Read more