To everyone who has looked over my work, provided guidance and encouragement, and told me my work has value: thank you!

Your moment of kindness stayed with me long after our interactions and helps me continue doing what I love (even when imposter syndrome strikes). I'm forever grateful 🫶🏼💘

I am excited to continue my learning journey here and look forward to contributing to the development of international human rights law. 🥰

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I love looking at law through different disciplines and even though I'm behind on my reading for the sessions this month - I'm excited to add new materials to my TBR (and having a reading group gives me motivation to actually do the reading!) 😅

I'm still making my way through the book and thinking about what if human rights treaties / UN charter had a time-limit after which they needed to be rewritten (inspired by one of the points made in today's discussion). If so, would we move beyond existing structures/blueprints?

I am grateful for this reality check whilst also being frustrated by the realisation that this is many people's reality in India and elsewhere.

But I'm using this as a reminder to myself to ensure that my research and praxis contribute to the dismantling of oppressive systems.

The othering, humiliation, and oppression of minorities everywhere thrives on ignorance of such kind. It relies on the normalisation of violent behaviours through laws, politics and culture. It craves indifference to the violent realities of the marginalised.

I was not surprised at the casteism and Islamophobia in the film. I know what the sad reality of Indian society (at large) is.

But I'm embarrassed to admit that I did not realise the extent to which, and how, violence against minorities in India manifests and persists.

... the participants! Thank you also to Samira Dar and Emily Waibel for promoting the event to their students and to Tatiana Bolshova for helping me prep for the event on the day. I am grateful that my village includes these wonderful people! 🌷

🌷 They say it takes a village and I want to end this post by thanking mine: thank you Shaid Parveen and Karan Rana for helping me, encouraging me and believing in me to organise and execute this event. Thank you also to Karan for taking photos of the event which allowed me to be present with...

It was moving in particular to hear our student participants reflect on their journey and remind us (and their younger self) that "nothing is impossible", that they should remember "to be bold and brave", and the steps they consciously take to dismantle systems of inequity. I was so inspired! 💛

... points in life. This exercise also inevitably reminds us that it is important to be kind to ourselves whilst we are in the process of learning, unlearning and becoming.

💛 Thank you to the participants who kindly shared their poems with the group.

📝 Finally, each of the participants wrote their version of Jennae Cecilia's poem, 'I met my younger self for coffee'. This activity was designed to encourage dialogue with our younger self, to show them the love and support they needed as they navigate through different (and sometimes difficult)...

🫖 We then fueled up on Chai (and coffee) and a variety of cultural snacks whilst engaging in more discussions around identities and self-love.