Melanie O'Brien

Melanie O'Brien is a Visiting Professor at the Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies, University of Minnesota, and Associate Professor of International Law at the University of Western Australia. Her expertise spans genocide accountability, gender-based violence in conflict, and international tribunals, with fieldwork across six continents.

Education

• Ph.D. in International Law, University of Nottingham
• LL.M. in International Human Rights Law, Lund University
• Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, University of Western Australia
• LL.B., University of Newcastle
• B.A. in History & French, University of Newcastle

Research Focus

Her research constructs paradigms of genocide through human rights violations, examining sexual violence in conflicts including Rohingya, Armenian, and Ukrainian contexts. She develops legal frameworks for atrocity prevention and proof.

Publication Trends

Her recent articles analyze genocide jurisprudence, gender justice in international courts, and legal responses to wartime sexual violence, utilizing feminist and human rights lenses.

Awards and Honors

• Aurora Mardiganian Medal for Armenian Genocide research
• Mid-Career Research Award
• Institute of Advanced Studies Visiting Fellowship
• Multiple UN consultancies and amicus curiae roles

Professional Engagement

As President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, she leads global initiatives on genocide education. She directs research units and supervises graduate projects on international law applications.