James Barklamb - Reprieve

James is enthusiastic to be joining one of Reprieve Australia's United States partners working on key issues pertaining to criminal justice reform and the broader anti-death penalty movement in southern states where capital punishment is still enforced.

James' commitment to human rights has developed across his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degrees. Within James' Arts degree, he has majored in International Relations, with a particular focus on the mechanics of post-conflict transitions and the politics of ethnic division. In his Law degree, James has focused on key studies addressing international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law. James is currently in Yangon completing supervised research into the situation of ethnic Rohingya, where he is on study abroad at Yangon University as a New Colombo Plan scholar of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

James' practical experience in human rights law has been advanced by his time with the Castan Centre's in-house internship program, where he undertook research into the civil rights implications of Australia's national security legislation, and analysis of educational outcomes for students with disabilities in the Victorian education system. James has also spent time with the International Organisation for Migration, assessing potential remedies for trafficking victims across the Thailand-Laos border, and has analysed the situation of internally displaced persons and the action of active militias in northern Iraq and Syria, whilst working in Berlin at the Global Public Policy Institute.

Following an extended placement at the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia this year, James is motivated to broaden his understanding of the practical application of criminal law. Particularly, having worked in the Office of the Co-Prosecutor, James is motivated to gain a greater appreciation of the challenges faced in providing defendants adequate legal representation and the practical barriers to upholding the rule of law in states where capital punishment is still enforced. James is also interested in understanding the interplay between law and politics in a context where elements of the judiciary and public prosecution office are directly elected, and how best education and advocacy can be utilised to shape public opinion and political action on issues of criminal justice reform.

On returning to Australia, James is excited to utilise his experiences to better address key human rights and justice issues in his local community, through continued work in community groups with which he's engaged. He aims to utilise his human rights background in a public policy context, working towards active reform of key governmental institutions in his future career.