Blog
Fátima Ribeirinha, a PhD Student in Human Rights from Portugal reflects on her visit to the Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights.
Fátima Ribeirinha, a PhD Student in Human Rights from Portugal reflects on her visit to the Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights.
On August 21, I arrived in Cork to begin a two-month research internship as a visiting PhD student in Human Rights through the Erasmus+ program at the Centre for Criminal Justice & Human Rights. I chose the CCJHR for my visit, due to the high-quality of its outputs and history as a human rights centre at Ireland's No.1 ranked law school. This experience provided support for my doctoral research, which focuses on reproductive rights and sexual health among Venezuelan asylum-seeking women migrating to Brazil. With the guidance and resources from CCJHR members in the School of Law, UCC I was able to advance my dissertation and engage in other academic projects, benefitting from access to books, insights, and one-on-one support.
My time at the CCJHR, UCC has been profoundly enriching. I found the interdisciplinary nature and contacts which the CCJHR had across UCC really enriched my time. For example, during my stay, I attended and even taught part of a course on "Cultural Identity in Portuguese-Speaking Africa," where I presented a class on the Portuguese dictatorship and colonial period. I also had the opportunity to attend "Refugee and Forced Displacement Law," which has been instrumental for my PhD research. Being at the CCJHR, UCC has allowed me to attend a range of diverse academic events, including conferences on racism and Brazil's dictatorship, and join in student-led cultural activities and events, which added an exciting layer to my experience.
This journey would not have been possible without the support of my supervisors. Dr. Samantha Morgan-Williams played an essential role in making this opportunity a reality, guiding me from the initial stages of planning my stay and providing continuous mentorship throughout my time at the CCJHR, UCC. Her dedication has been invaluable to my academic growth and integration at the university. Likewise, Dr. Claire Murray offered crucial guidance, particularly on topics related to health and feminism, enriching my understanding and research focus in these areas.