Author name: Amal Hammes

Amal Hammes is an esteemed lawyer who has made a name for herself on the international stage for her exceptional expertise in human rights, international law, and negotiations. Currently working in one of the largest law firms globally, her contributions to the legal sphere have made an indelible impact on the landscape of international jurisprudence. Born in 1981, Hammes developed an early interest in social justice issues, and this passion guided her to a career in law. She pursued her Bachelor's degree at Harvard University, where she graduated with honors in 2003. Following this, Hammes attended the Yale Law School, earning her Juris Doctorate in 2006. In the early years of her career, Hammes worked for a few prestigious law firms, where she cultivated her interest in human rights and international law. However, it was her joining one of the world's largest law firms that propelled her career forward and exposed her to a broad range of complex international cases. Hammes' practice encompasses advising governments, international organizations, and non-profit organizations on a wide range of legal issues, from humanitarian law to trade agreements. She has also been instrumental in several high-profile negotiations and litigations, earning a reputation for her resilience, strategic insight, and unerring ethical compass. With a deep commitment to upholding human rights, Hammes has undertaken numerous pro bono cases to help individuals and groups facing injustices. Her advocacy has led to several landmark rulings that have transformed legal interpretations and applications of international human rights law. In addition to her legal practice, Hammes regularly contributes her insights and analyses in esteemed law journals and is a sought-after speaker in legal conferences and seminars worldwide. She is an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, where she instills the principles of human rights and international law in the next generation of lawyers. Hammes' accolades include being named as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" by Time magazine in 2021 and receiving the prestigious "Champion of Justice" Award by the International Bar Association in 2022. Her relentless pursuit of justice and her significant impact on international law have cemented her legacy as a leading figure in the global legal arena. Despite her busy schedule, Hammes remains committed to mentoring young lawyers and advocates, imparting not just legal knowledge but also the importance of upholding justice and equality. Her professional journey embodies the belief that the law can be a powerful tool for social change. Her dedication, expertise, and contributions to the field make her one of the most respected figures in the legal community.

The Negative Effects of Relying on Inconsistencies to Determine Credibility in Asylum Claims Involving an Initial Omission of Sexual Assault

International Law / By /

An asylum seeker generally has several opportunities, through initial interviews and applications, to affidavits and testimony in court, to tell his or her story.  These opportunities create multiple records of the asylum seeker’s story. Decision makers in the United States examine these records for inconsistencies, by looking at facts omitted or added at any point …

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The Concept of ‘Protection’ by Non-State Actors in the Country of Origin and the Revocation of the Refugee Status

International Law / By /

In international refugee law and under EU asylum law, an individual must demonstrate both that they face a risk of serious harm and that they lack state protection from that harm to qualify for refugee status. On 20 January 2021, the CJEU delivered a judgement on the question of ‘protection’ in the country of origin …

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Regional Disembarkation Platforms” and “Controlled Centres”: Lifting The Drawbridge, Reaching out Across The Mediterranean, or Going Nowhere?

International Law / By /

Francesco Maiani Editorial Advisory Panel Associate Professor, Centre of Comparative, European and International Law, University of Lausanne  Introduction: The Cyclical Crises of The Common European Asylum System In 2015-2016, the Schengen common travel area and the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) risked a complete meltdown. The story has been told elsewhere on RefLaw: one million refugees landed in Greece and …

Regional Disembarkation Platforms” and “Controlled Centres”: Lifting The Drawbridge, Reaching out Across The Mediterranean, or Going Nowhere? Read More »

Palestinian Refugees and the Protection Gap

International Law / By /

In April, the UN issued a press statement regarding the desperate condition of Yarmouk, a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, Syria. Due to fighting between the Islamic State, Aknaf Beit Al-Maqdis (a Palestinian faction), and the Al-Nusra Front (an Al-Qaeda affiliate), UN agencies have been unable to bring much-needed humanitarian aid to Yarmouk. The camp falls under the jurisdiction …

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Khlaifia and Others v Italy: Italy again held in violation of collective expulsions by ECtHR

International Law / By /

In a Chamber judgment of 1 September 2015 in Khlaifia and Others v Italy, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held Italy in violation of Article 4 of Protocol 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the collective expulsion of aliens. Furthermore, the Court held violations of Article 5 (1) (right to liberty …

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Protecting Refugee Property and Dignity: A Brief Comment on the Legal and Ethical Basis of the Danish “Jewelry Law”

International Law / By /

by Anna Lise Purkey Assistant Professor of Sociology and Legal Studies, St. Jerome’s University, at the University of Waterloo For a brief period of several weeks between December 2015 and February 2016, the ire of the community of people and institutions engaged in refugee assistance and protection was directed not at the more typical targets …

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UNHCR Faces an RSD Crisis

International Law / By /

In 2013, around one in five people who sought individual refugee status determination applied not to a government, but to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). While sjukskrivningar UNHCR reports wholesale nfl jerseys that individual asylum applications as a whole rose globally from 2012 to 2013 by 15 percent, the burden of that increase was disproportionately absorbed by UNHCR, with a …

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Hotspots and Relocation Schemes: The Right Therapy for the Common European Asylum System?

International Law / By /

The Common European Asylum System (“CEAS”) and the Schengen travel area are in considerable jeopardy. The spontaneous arrival of approximately one million persons in 2015, 90% from the top refugee-producing countries of the world, has cruelly exposed their paradoxes and set in motion centrifugal forces that appear to threaten their very existence. The remedy proposed by the EU …

Hotspots and Relocation Schemes: The Right Therapy for the Common European Asylum System? Read More »

Welcome to Denmark: How Will You Be Paying for Your Stay?

International Law / By /

The Danish Parliament passed a law allowing police to search for and confiscate assets belonging to refugees entering the country’s borders. The law permits police to take any cash or property that exceeds 10,000 DKK (approximately $1456 USD), with the exception of sentimental items like wedding rings. Although the law ostensibly serves as a deterrent to future asylum …

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Naturalization in Tanzania: Lessons from the Ebb and Flow of the Process

International Law / By /

In December 2007, the Government of Tanzania announced its willingness to offer naturalization as part of a comprehensive solution for Burundian refugees who had been in Tanzania since 1972. This policy announcement was a surprise to many observers of refugee issues in Tanzania in light of the country’s restrictive approach to asylum since the 1990s …

Naturalization in Tanzania: Lessons from the Ebb and Flow of the Process Read More »

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