MAS in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law: What our Students Say

14 February 2022

Sharon Braekman, enrolled in our Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law (MTJ), tells us about her background, the programme and what it will bring to her career.

About Me

Coming from Belgium, I have a Master of Law in Criminal Justice and Human Rights from Ghent University. My curiosity and interest in a broad range of fields are reflected in my volunteer work with victims of human trafficking in Belgium and in the choice, during my studies, of courses on philosophy, psychology and political science. Various internships at law offices and participation in a moot court gave me a glimpse of life as a lawyer, and I am now ready to explore other options.

Why did you choose the MTJ at the Geneva Academy?

During my Erasmus at the University of Neuchâtel, I attended a guest lecture on transitional justice and I knew that it was my thing right away.

Transitional justice is a very specific domain, yet it involves expertise from a wide variety of fields. The combination of the Geneva Academy solid academic reputation with the fact that it offers a master programme in this field made it a fairly evident choice to apply to the MTJ.

What are you particularly enjoying about this programme?

The MTJ courses offer exactly what I lacked in my law education: a holistic approach to conflicts.

For me, the strongest point of the programme is the diversity of students who give incredibly interesting insights from their home countries during classes.

Would you Recommend it?

I would recommend the MTJ to anyone who is looking for a holistic programme in the field of transitional justice and human rights.

What are you planning to do next?

After graduation, I plan to gain experience in the field for a couple of years, either with an NGO or with an international organization. The programme will help me to reach this objective by acquiring the tools and postgraduate degree to do so.

Why did you choose to be photographed in front of Bains des Pâquis?

I chose a picture at Bains des Pâquis because this is the place that combines all the joys of Geneva. It’s close to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and gives a great overview of the lake with the old town and the mountains behind it. And, most importantly, people of all backgrounds gather here to have breakfast before work, go for a swim, walk, have a drink or read a book.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

GHRP Annual Conference 2024 News

GHRP Annual Conference 2024 Strengthens Connectivity in a Pressured Human Rights System

25 November 2024

The 2024 Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP), held on 5 November at Maison de la Paix, focused on the theme Human Rights System Under Pressure: A Reason to Expand Connectivity.

Read more

Human Rights Tiles News

From Signals to Action: Strengthening the UN's Conflict Prevention Efforts

31 March 2025

Our recent research brief series explores how the United Nations' human rights system can enhance its role in early warning and conflict prevention.

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

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

15-19 September 2025

Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.

Read more

Session of the UN Human Rights Committee Project

Treaty Body Review 2020 and Beyond

Started in January 2018

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributes to this review process by providing expert input via different avenues, by facilitating dialogue on the review among various stakeholders, as well as by accompanying the development of a follow-up resolution to 68/268 in New York and in Geneva.

Read more

Project

Follow-up Review Pilot Series

Started in November 2021

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