Staff profile

Biography

I am currently a PhD candidate at Sociology and Social Policy at Durham University. Trained as a lawyer in Brazil, I have worked primarily in the field of criminal law and human rights, with focus on research and advocacy in international human rights law (OAB/PR; Universidade Federal do Paraná).

Since completing my MA in International Peace Studies at Soka University, Japan, in 2021, I have been engaged in research with local communities in Brazil, particularly with human rights defenders (HDRs) and grassroots movements. My current research project is a collaborative effort with a NGO that supports human rights defenders protection and security. Together, we are carrying out a participatory action research (PAR) project in a quilombo community, focusing on the collective protection practices of women HRDs. This project, from a socio-legal lens, will advance knowledge on decolonisation, racial and gender-based violence, and community-led protection strategies in postcolonial contexts.

Alongside my academic work, I have participated in a range of advocacy initiatives, fundraising efforts, and the planning of both national and international events. I have experience working with diverse stakeholders, including NGOs, academic institutions, and local community organisations.

Research Interests

- Protection and well-being of human rights defenders

- Peace-building and grassroots movements

- Race and gender-based violence

- Intersectionality in postcolonial contexts

- Socio-legal studies

- Participatory and community-based research approaches

- Creative and collaborative methodologies for knowledge production