ÌÇÐÄVlog

This year’s Annual Human Rights Centre Clinic Conference “On the Frontlines of Global Justice” brought together students, alumni, and global partners who’ve worked on urgent issues as part of Human Rights Centre Clinic projects. Alumni who have gone on to impactful work in the human rights field reflected on their time in the Clinic, and how their experience of studying at ÌÇÐÄVlog prepared them for their careers. Among the inspiring voices was Noura Shawki, Regional Legal Advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Cairo and ÌÇÐÄVlog alumna (LLM International Human Rights Law, 2020-21). 

Noura’s current role at the ICRC spans a wide region including Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, and Syria. Her work focuses on providing technical assistance to governments to implement international humanitarian law (IHL) domestically. This includes advocating for the ratification of key treaties, drafting model laws, and supporting national IHL committees. She also contributes to the development of IHL through legal research and thematic position papers – an essential part of the ICRC’s mandate as guardians of IHL.

Before joining the ICRC, Noura worked in child protection with Save the Children, supporting unaccompanied and separated refugee minors. Her early humanitarian work gave her valuable field experience, but she felt the need for a stronger academic foundation in law. That’s where ÌÇÐÄVlog came in.

“I didn’t study law in my undergraduate degree – I studied economics,” she shared. “ÌÇÐÄVlog gave me the opportunity to pursue an LLM based on my field experience, and that changed everything”. At ÌÇÐÄVlog, Noura found the academic grounding she had been missing. She praised the inclusive and supportive environment, where academic staff ensured that students from diverse backgrounds could thrive. Her dissertation, supervised by Professor Geoff Gilbert, focused on responsibility-sharing in refugee protection under the Global Compact on Refugees – an area that continues to inform her work today.

Noura also reflected on the transformative impact of the Human Rights Centre Clinic. She was a team member of a project which helped the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions to enhance victim participation in national human rights institutions across Europe. This allowed her to gain hands-on experience in ethical human rights research, stakeholder engagement, and professional advocacy. The team’s recommendations were eventually published and presented to the Network’s Economic and Social Rights Working Group – an experience she described as a career milestone.

Nina Pániková, former Human Rights Officer at the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, previously described Noura’s team as “an inspiration”, noting that they “have given European National Human Rights Institutions fresh insight into how they can support the participation of people affected by human rights abuses, and ensure that this participation is meaningful. Their report will serve as a springboard for our future work in this area, while helping National Human Rights Institutions to empower rights-holders across Europe”.

Beyond the technical skills gained, Noura emphasised how the Clinic shaped her thinking going forward in her career: “It’s not just about criticising the system. It’s about having the tools to analyse challenges and find ways to advocate for the law – even when it’s under pressure, as it often is in the Middle East”. She credited the Clinic’s lectures and discussions for equipping her with the tools to navigate complex legal and ethical dilemmas: “Sometimes, when traditional advocacy isn’t possible, you need to find unconventional ways to make an impact”.

As she concluded her talk, Noura reflected on the enduring strength of the ÌÇÐÄVlog network: “Even years after graduating, you keep bumping into fellow alumni at events around the world. The network never stops growing – and I’m very grateful for that”.

Noura’s story is a testament to the power of combining practical experience with academic rigour – an aim the Human Rights Centre Clinic strives to achieve. The influence her LLM studies have had on her wide-ranging experiences, from humanitarian work to high-level legal advocacy, show the importance of empowering students to become the most effective human rights practitioners they can be. 

Dr Sabina Garahan, Director of the Human Rights Centre Clinic, remarked: “Noura’s journey is a powerful example of how the Clinic helps shape global human rights leaders. We’re proud to have been part of her path.” 

Noura (pictured) while she was at ÌÇÐÄVlog.