On this International Women Day, meet the women who work at the Geneva Academy – researchers, teaching assistants, administrative staff – and without whom the Geneva Academy would not be what it is!
Discover what this day means for them.
Discover
As our Event and Hospitality Assistant, Yasmine Arias is in charge of the organization of all our events.
‘The 8 of March is a day to acknowledge that women are strong and never give up despite the obstacles. It’s also a day to remind everyone that even the smallest action can shape a brighter future.’
As a Communication Officer, Tatiana Avanthay contributes to the visibility and promotion of our activities. She notably develops video content for our website and social media, coordinates all IT issues for our institution and is the one setting up our online courses and events.
‘Women's day is for me, the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of women in the past, present and in days to come.’
‘Women's day is for me, the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of women in the past, present and in days to come.’
">
Agustina Becerra Vazquez is one of our Teaching Assistants and a PhD candidate at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Her doctoral research explores restorative justice and international human rights law.
‘Women's day is a day of remembrance that interpellates all the people to reflect about their -our- own gender and colonial biases and the type of masculinities and femininities we perform.’
Dr Ana Beduschi is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Exeter and Senior Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy. Her research and teaching focus on international human rights law, technology, digital law, data protection and privacy, and international migration and refugee law. She is in charge of our research on disruptive technologies and rights-based resilience.
‘On this day, I believe it is important to reflect on the many challenges ahead for gender equality and inclusion.’
‘On this day, I believe it is important to reflect on the many challenges ahead for gender equality and inclusion.’
">
Dr Annyssa Bellal is a Senior Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy. She leads a research project aimed at compiling and analyzing the practice and interpretation of selected international humanitarian law and human rights norms by armed non-state actors.
'I am a very strong believer in the power of sorority. My colleagues are often my biggest supporters, always ready to encourage me when I have doubts or help me find solutions to work challenges. In a sometimes very competitive academic world, this solidarity among us is precious. The 8th of March is a great reminder of these values and the strength they represent for society as a whole.'
As Executive Director, Maud Bonnet manages the daily functioning of the Geneva Academy and is in charge of the financial management of all programmes, as well as of the administrative management of the staff.
‘In an armed conflict, women are among the persons protected by the Geneva Conventions. However more than benefitting from this protection status, they are also strong actors of change. A day like this one must be the opportunity to highlight their engagement towards a safer world.’
‘In an armed conflict, women are among the persons protected by the Geneva Conventions. However more than benefitting from this protection status, they are also strong actors of change. A day like this one must be the opportunity to highlight their engagement towards a safer world.’
">
Professor Gloria Gaggioli is the Director of the Geneva Academy and a renowned scholar in international humanitarian law and human rights.
‘On this 8 March, my thoughts go to all the victims of sexual and gender-based violence. During armed conflicts, these crimes are often used as a tactic against women and girls to subjugate the enemy. They are an affront to human dignity, which should not go unpunished and reparations for victims are needed.’
Francesca Invernizzi works in our Student Office as an Assistant to our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.
‘As Kofi Annan said, there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.’
‘As Kofi Annan said, there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.’
">
Ana Kilibarda works in our Student Office as an Assistant to our Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict.
‘What women`s rights are all about: be yourself, as you are and as you wish to be.’
Alina Kondratiuk works in our Student Office as an Assistant to our Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
‘The 8th of March represents for me the wisdom and strengths of women.’
‘The 8th of March represents for me the wisdom and strengths of women.’
">
As the Geneva Academy Communication Manager, Nathalie Mivelaz Tirabosco is responsible for our communication and media relations.
‘8 March is a reminder of the road ahead to reach equality and end discrimination and violence against women in our homes, societies and world – be it in times of peace or conflict. It is also a day to make this struggle more visible and pay tribute to all the women who have fought and continue to fight for equality.’
Yulia Mogutova is one of our Teaching Assistants and a PhD candidate at the University of Geneva Law Faculty. Her doctoral research focuses on the management of natural resources in armed conflicts.
‘International Women’s Day in today’s world is a reminder to everyone that human rights and equality are not to be taken for granted, there is a lot of struggle and personal tragedies behind each right and freedom we enjoy. It is our role to ensure that people stay united against discrimination, atrocities and injustice.’
‘International Women’s Day in today’s world is a reminder to everyone that human rights and equality are not to be taken for granted, there is a lot of struggle and personal tragedies behind each right and freedom we enjoy. It is our role to ensure that people stay united against discrimination, atrocities and injustice.’
">
Chloé Naret works as a Project Assistant for the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP). In this role, she notably coordinates the training course organized by the platform as part of its Training Hub.
‘While acknowledging that significant progress has been made in terms of gender equality, for me this day is a reminder that much more needs to be done, especially in light of the increasing backlash against women’s rights. In every country of the world, women and girls continue to face persistent forms of discrimination, deeply rooted in structural inequalities.’
Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy and the current United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism. A leading expert in the fields of emergency powers, counter-terrorism and human rights, conflict regulation, transitional justice and sex-based violence in times of war, she will complete a monograph on the law of occupation focused on the gender dimensions of occupation during her time with us.
‘International women's day represents acknowledgment of the centrality of women's rights to establishing fair, equitable and just societies. It does not create such societies but reminds us that only with the achievement of women's full equality are such societies' possible.’
‘International women's day represents acknowledgment of the centrality of women's rights to establishing fair, equitable and just societies. It does not create such societies but reminds us that only with the achievement of women's full equality are such societies' possible.’
">
Dr Chiara Redaelli is a Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy. An expert in international humanitarian law, jus ad bellum and international human rights law, she runs our Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts (RULAC) online portal and also conducts research for our projects on disruptive military technologies.
‘It is not easy to convey in a few lines what the International Women's Day means to me. I could mention achievements on gender equality and reproductive rights, although there is still a lot to be done to have true equality. I could also talk about cases when I have been discriminated due to my gender, and how I reacted to such discriminations.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said that ‘women belong in all places where decisions are being made and that ‘real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.‘ I believe that these two sentences beautifully sum up the struggle, challenges, and achievements of all women.’
Katia Rosenblat is one of our Teaching Assistants and a PhD candidate at the University of Geneva Law Faculty. Her doctoral research focuses on extraterritorial jurisdiction for human rights violations committed in the context of extractive industries.
‘The 8M represents an opportunity to remember the world about the work women do, both productive and reproductive, and how it stops working if we stop. It is also a day to protest against gender-based violence in every context through an intersectional approach.’
‘The 8M represents an opportunity to remember the world about the work women do, both productive and reproductive, and how it stops working if we stop. It is also a day to protest against gender-based violence in every context through an intersectional approach.’
">
Ana Srovin Coralli is one of our Teaching Assistants and a PhD candidate at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Her research explores the responsibility for atrocity crimes and omissions.
‘Today, at the Geneva Academy, I am celebrating Women’s Day, like I did yesterday and will tomorrow. No other place in the world has inspired me more to learn, exchange, teach and contribute through education to the lives of women, especially those who have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of war and post-conflict rebuilding.’