Kirsten Sjolander Memorial Prize for Advanced International Human Rights Law

The objective of the prize is to recognise the student(s) who has demonstrated a high level of academic excellence through being awarded the highest result in LAWS8234 International Human Rights Law at the ANU College of Law.

The value of the prize awarded is $500. If two or more students achieve the same top mark, the prize awarded in that year shall be divided equally between them.

The prize will be on offer annually unless otherwise advised.

Funding for this prize has been provided by alumni, staff, friends and family of Kirsten Sjolander and the ANU College of Law.

The Kirsten Sjolander Memorial Prize for Advanced International Human Rights Law was established in memory of ANU Law PhD student, Kirsten Sjolander, who passed away in March 2017 following an 18-month battle with an aggressive form of melanoma. She was an inspiration to the ANU Law community with her research exploring the intersection between law and neuroscience, seeking the origins of human rights concepts.

Kirsten had a 20-year career in human rights and international relations and twice received the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM) from the Australian Governor-General for her human rights and humanitarian work abroad. She worked as a human rights defender and humanitarian aid worker with the United Nations; the Director for Human Rights and Indigenous Issues and Director for Southern and Central Africa with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and held positions with the Australian Trade Commission and the former Australian Agency for International Development and various international NGOs. She worked in several parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East including Burma, Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya, the Sudan, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Cyprus, Lebanon, and Bosnia