Olivia Herman

Olivia Herman joined the Centre for Global Governance Studies at the University of Leuven in October 2016 as a PhD Fellow. Her research focuses on the international responsibility of armed non-state actors for victim reparation and is supported by The Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO). She is also an associated member of the Leuven Institute of Criminlogy (University of Leuven). Olivia obtained her Master of Laws (summa cum laude) from the University of Leuven. During her studies, Olivia completed a one-year exchange programme at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She was as well awarded a scholarship to attend The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars in Washington DC, USA, where she participated in the International Affairs Program and worked as a research intern at The Protection Project (SAIS, The Johns Hopkins University). Following the completion of her law degree, Olivia obtained an additional Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation from the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation, in Venice and at the University of Graz. Prior to joining the Centre, Olivia worked at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. She was assigned to the Human Rights Council Branch and the Complaint Procedure Branch. She also undertook a traineeship at the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel. She assisted the Political and Operations Section on human rights, democracy and peace-related matters. Olivia’s main areas of interest include transitional justice, non-state armed groups, international human rights law and international humanitarian law.