Voices from the Field

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

This summer, I will be working with the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) in Cape Town, South Africa. With roots in the apartheid-period struggle for peace and justice in South Africa, CSVR has been working to analyze and address intra-societal conflict and violence since 1989. Over the last two decades, CSVR has worked with other NGOs and regional institutions across Africa to develop policy-based solutions to a wide range of forms of violence and conflict and to promote its goal of a society that is peaceful, equal, and free of violence. My internship will focus on creating and revising country studies for use in policy and advocacy work with the African Union and the African Commission for Human and Peoples' Rights. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Dhaka, Bangledesh

This summer, I will be working with Winrock International's Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) program. The CTIP program aims to reduce the trafficking of persons in Asia through a coordinated effort of public and private actors to deliver counseling, legal services, and economic support to men and women who have escaped trafficking. The CTIP program seeks to engage all layers of society to end human trafficking. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Prague, Czech Republic

I will be working with the Central and Eastern European Law Initiative (CEELI) Institute located in Prague, Czech Republic. This summer, CEELI will be celebrating its 20th anniversary of working to advance the rule of law globally. The institute is focused on connecting key players in justice and providing world-class legal education opportunities. I will work closely with CEELI's leadership to help push the mission forward through communications, programming, and research. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: The Hague, Netherlands

This summer, I will be working at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Development (IDEA). My internship is with IDEA's Constitution Building Processes Programme at the Hague, but I will be working on this internship remotely from Williamsburg, Virginia. I look forward to working on a comparative analysis of different constitutional systems in order to aid post-conflict countries develop democratic systems tailored to their unique culture and needs. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This summer, I will be working remotely with the Pinkcollar Employment Agency located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pinkcollar is the first ethical recruiting agency in Malaysia, cofounded by William & Mary Law School alum Elaine Sim. The agency’s groundbreaking ethical employment model combats human trafficking and upholds domestic workers' rights by eliminating debt bondage. I will be in charge of constructing a transparent and equitable termination process and writing educational materials for domestic workers, informing them of their legal rights. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

I will be working remotely with the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) in Johannesburg, South Africa. In my role at ISLA, I will be working with the domestic courts in South Africa, international courts in Africa, and UN treaty bodies to better facilitate women's human and economic rights throughout the African continent. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

This summer, I will be interning with the International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) office in Geneva, Switzerland. IBJ is a non-governmental organization devoted to the protection of basic legal rights for individuals in developing nations, specifically the rights to competent legal representation, a fair trial, and protection from cruel and unusual punishment. To achieve these goals, IBJ provides training and support to legal aid organizations, at the same time promoting the establishment of just and effective criminal law systems. During my internship, I will write grant proposals as well as contribute to the development of manuals to be used by lawyers in developing nations. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: China

This summer, I will be working remotely with International Bridges to Justice in China. The practice of criminal defense law is often regarded as a high-risk profession in China and as a result, an incredibly large number of criminal defendants remain unrepresented at trial. By providing remote assistance to the China Office of IBJ, I will be working alongside legal aid attorneys, members from the criminal community, and government institutions to push for sustainable reforms in the criminal justice system. Read my summer blog to find out more >

This summer, I will be working remotely with International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), a human rights and legal aid organization that combats torture, arbitrary detention, and other abuses worldwide. IBJ engages in numerous activities to pursue their vision of a just world, including, reporting on human rights abuses and empowering lawyers--through education and training--to protect those who face government oppression. In particular, IBJ specializes in strategizing and lobbying for criminal justice reform, which is central to its mission of promoting human rights. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

This summer, I will be working with Open Development Cambodia, which seeks to provide the public with up-to-date, accurate information about Cambodia and its economic and social development. As a result of climate change, Cambodia is among several countries in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific that are vulnerable to rising sea levels which could lead to a loss of land and force millions of people to relocate. I will be researching how much land area is threatened by climate change and how the government could act to prevent and adapt to this rising challenge. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Bangladesh

This summer, I will be working for Winrock International in their Bangladesh Counter Trafficking in Persons (BCTIP)/Cambodia Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) programs. Through this internship, I will be working to reduce the prevalence of human trafficking and child marriage in Bangladesh and Cambodia by partnering with community leaders to improve victims’ access to assistance and to increase the local government’s ability to prosecute offenders. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Pristina, Kosovo

This summer I will work for Democracy for Development, a civil society organization located in Pristina, Kosovo. My work will include research on Kosovo's recognition campaign and the effort to establish Kosovo's international legitimacy. Read my summer blog to find out more >

This summer, I will be working with the Center for Legal Aid and Regional Development (CLARD), located in Kosovo.  CLARD is an NGO that serves vulnerable individuals and marginalized segments of Kosovo’s population by providing fair access to justice.  I will specifically be creating a manual on access to criminal justice in Kosovo that CLARD will distribute throughout the country, as well as help with their continued work establishing the rule of law in Kosovo. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Jakarta and Padang, Indonesia

This summer, I will be working with the Constitutional Court of Indonesia, Indonesian Human Rights Commission, Electoral Commission, Election Supervisory Committee and Center for Constitutional Studies (PUSaKO) at Andalas University on anti-corruption efforts in Indonesia. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Washington, DC

This summer, I will be working for the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. USIP's work is focused on conflict prevention, mitigation, and resolution around the globe. The organization pursues stability, peace, and the rule of law, emphasizing the core values of respect, adaptability, partnership, and accountability. USIP believes conflicts can be resolved without violence and that sustainable peace strengthens the national security interests of the United States. I will be contributing research to one of USIP's Justice and Security Dialogue teams this summer. Read my summer blog to find out more >

Location: Arlington, Virginia

This summer, I will be working with the National Center for State Courts International Programs Division. This organization works with donor agencies, host-country governments, and civil society organizations to promote equal justice and judicial independence at a global level. I will be contributing to various rule of law projects that will provide technical assistance, training, and technology to empower communities and improve the quality of justice systems around the world. Read my summer blog to find out more >