Name:   Hanan Elmasu

Country of Origin:   Palestine/ Israel

NLS Award:  2005-2006

Graduate Program:   School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London

Background & Goals:  Hanan Elmasu wished to enhance her expertise in the field of human rights, and to learn how to more effectively utilize principals of international law in public diplomacy. She is also interested in gaining the skills necessary to develop negotiation policies, and to conduct third-party interventions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as other situations of armed conflict.

Post-Degree Projects: Hanan Elmasu completed her LLM in Public International Law from the University of London and returned home. The focus of her coursework was international protection of human rights, international courts and tribunals, and colonialism and the development of international law. She found all three courses to be relevant to her work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular developing a greater understanding of the mechanisms used for the protection of human rights and avenues for addressing violations of international law. Her research focus was primarily on the enforcement of the advisory opinion given by the International Court of Justice in regard to third state responsibility and Israel’s construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Having worked on the memorial that was submitted to the ICJ on behalf of Palestine, she found that the opportunity to explore the enforcement of the opinion particularly useful. Since returning home, Elmasu has worked as a consultant with her former office, Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association in Ramallah, with the Negotiations Support Unit, to assist in humanitarian monitoring and advise on strategies to ensure that key actors understand the humanitarian situation.

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