Global Intern Gemma Hallett

Human Rights First

Read Gemma's final report here.

Profile

Gemma is thrilled to have the opportunity to intern in New York City with Human Rights First, an independent advocacy and action organisation that challenges America to live up to its ideals.

Gemma’s passion for human rights has developed throughout her time as a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts student. In her Arts degree she majored in international politics and human rights theory, with a particular focus on counter-terrorism, US foreign policy and European security. Gemma’s Law degree has further provided the foundations for a strong understanding of human rights law and practice; having studied international human rights Law at a Juris Doctor level, as well as international refugee law and transitional justice.

Gemma’s practical experience in human rights law began at Springvale Monash Legal Service, where she acted for disadvantaged clients in diverse criminal and civil matters. This placement sparked a passion for using her legal skills to serve the community, and she later returned to the Service to complete a specialised placement assisting victims of sexual abuse with compensation claims. This experience further developed Gemma’s lifelong passion for women’s human rights, which had been fostered during a semester abroad in Paris, France studying intersectional gender and development, and gender and queer law, at Sciences Po (The Paris Institute of Political Sciences). Working at the International Women’s Development Agency, serving on the Board of Minus18, and serving as Director of Social Justice & Equity of the Monash Law Students’ Society have also shaped her passionate stance on women’s human rights.

This year, Gemma has commenced volunteering as a paralegal at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Assisting vulnerable and marginalised people seeking asylum has cemented her passion for refugee rights. Gemma is particularly looking forward to interning at Human Rights First due to its focus on refugee and immigration advocacy and law reform. She will value the opportunity to experience the practical realities of US immigration law and the unique experiences of refugees in the American region. Upon returning to Australia, she hopes to apply this comparative understanding to advocating for the reform of the Australian refugee processing system.

Gemma is also looking forward to witnessing the scale and scope of human rights advocacy in New York, given its status as an international hub for human rights law. She hopes to be exposed to new and diverse concepts, people and organisations that will inspire her to think creatively about human rights advocacy in her future career.