Dr. Yusra Suedi, Legal Academic, La Châtaigneraie, 2007
Yusra Suedi
La Châtaigneraie, 2007
International lawyer, Legal academic
United Kingdom
Learn more about me :
I am an academic specialised in Public International Law (PIL), which is the law regulating international relations between governments, international organisations and courts. I write about, advise on and have practised in many areas of PIL, but my current research focuses on opportunities for vulnerable communities to hold governments accountable before international courts for public interest matters such as climate change.
After being awarded my PhD from the University of Geneva in December 2020, I have relocated to the London School of Economics to teach classes in PIL, advance my research and publish my PhD dissertation as a book. It’s called “The Individual in the Law and Practice of the International Court of Justice”, and I hope you’ll be able to find it in your local library soon!
What is your favourite Ecolint memory?
There are too many Ecolint memories to count between the times spent in La Ferme (where the main music school was located) recording music and basketball practice several times a week, preparing for international tournaments. But one of my favourite memories would probably be the months spent rehearsing for the Threepenny Opera musical in Year 13. It was great having a creative outlet during my preparation for the IB exams. Juggling both and finishing strong formed the basis for the “Work hard, play hard” philosophy that has accompanied me throughout my career.
My time at Ecolint exposed me to nationalities from across the world. This would play an enormous role in my career. I went on to work for the United Nations and international courts and tribunals, and to teach very ethnically diverse classrooms at both the University of Geneva and now the LSE, with other teaching stints in between. The beauty of Ecolint is that although we came from different parts of the world, we saw each other for the people we were beyond our passports or the colours of our skin. I often wish the real world functioned in the same way.
One thing I wish I had more of in La Châtaigneraie is a greater sense of self and pride in my cultural heritage and identity. While it is true that Ecolint offers unparalleled national diversity amongst students, my cohort tended to lean heavily towards Western culture from a social perspective, so I felt pressured to fit into that mould for fear of being too different. As I walked into the real world, I increasingly became more comfortable wearing my religious and cultural heritage on my sleeve. Especially in light of the different forms of disheartening discrimination spanning the globe today, I believe that it is more important than ever for us to celebrate our differences and respect each other for our common humanity.
My words of wisdom for Ecolint students: aside from the importance of taking pride in our unique identities, I would encourage Ecolint students to enjoy this time to the fullest to explore their interests and talents. Ecolint has exceptional resources to cultivate a wide range of artistic, sporting and intellectual interests that should not be taken for granted. You never know what seeds a small-seeming venture may plant for your future. I, for one, could have never known at the time that participating in a Student League of Nations conference would be that seed for my career in Public International Law. It has been said that “You can only connect the dots looking backwards.”