معرفی
Professor Carla Ferstman serves as Director of the Human Rights Centre at Essex Law School, University of Essex, holding a full Professorship since October 2021 after previously serving as Senior Lecturer from January 2018 to September 2021. She is an internationally recognized expert in human rights law with extensive practical experience in international human rights institutions.
Education:
- DPhil in Public International Law from University of Oxford (2015)
- LLM in International Law from New York University (1998)
- Barrister and Solicitor from British Columbia Bar Association (1994)
- LL.B in Law from University of British Columbia (1993)
- BA in Philosophy from University of Western Ontario (1990)
Professor Ferstman's research spans three interconnected domains: Public International Law (focusing on law of international organizations, consular assistance, and application of human rights principles); Human Rights Law (specializing in enforcement mechanisms, remedies and reparation, accountability of state and non-state actors, and terrorism law); and International Criminal Law (particularly victims' rights, reparations, prosecutorial discretion, and complementarity). Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implementation challenges.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a clear trajectory toward increasingly complex human rights implementation issues, with growing emphasis on accountability mechanisms, civil society space protection, and the practical realities of reparation systems. Her scholarship shows particular focus on the tension between state sovereignty and human rights obligations, especially in migration contexts and peacekeeping operations.
Scientific Awards:
- Essex Faculty of Arts and Humanities Supervisor of the Year award (2022)
- MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions (awarded to REDRESS during her tenure as Director)
Professor Ferstman actively supervises doctoral candidates in human rights and law, with current students including Matteo Bassetti, Benjamin Khastan, Kani Areef, and Nataly Santana Sanchez. Her recent grant funding includes projects on Conflict Reporting Ethics (2025, University of Essex), Accountability for Online Harm Under International Criminal Law (2023, Modern Law Review), and UK Government Accountability for International Crimes (2020, University of Essex ESRC IAA). She has held prestigious fellowships including the O'Brien Residential Fellowship at McGill University (2023) and Fernand Braudel Fellowship at the European University Institute (2022).
As a member of the Council of Europe's Expert Council on NGO Law since 2018, Professor Ferstman contributes to shaping civil society regulation across Europe. She also serves on the Justice Rapid Response SGBV Justice Experts Roster and the Advisory Committee of Lawyers for Justice in Libya, demonstrating her commitment to practical human rights implementation beyond academic work.
