Aarif Abraham > Doughty Street Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Doughty Street Chambers Offices

Doughty Street Chambers
53-54 DOUGHTY STREET
LONDON
WC1N 2LS
England
Visit website 020 7404 1313 020 7404 2283

Aarif Abraham

Aarif Abraham photo

Position

Aarif Abraham is a barrister, writer and speaker, specialising in international criminal law and public international law including international human rights law and international arbitration. Aarif is recognised as a leading barrister (Band 1) in international law in Chambers and Partners (2021-Present). His domestic practice focuses on public law as well as criminal defence with a special focus on protest rights.

Career

Aarif originally qualified and practiced as a solicitor with the ‘magic circle’ international law firm, Slaughter and May, where he specialised in public law, litigation, and arbitration (Call: 2009).

Aarif has advised individuals, companies, public interest groups, international organisations, including the UN, and States in public international law, criminal and human rights cases, as well as advising on sanctions and commercial disputes. He has also advised policy makers, parliamentarians, and practitioners broadly on foreign policy matters, constitutional issues, and peacebuilding. Over the past five years, he has advised extensively, and assisted, on setting up tribunals and inquiries. He has also acted as a principal legal adviser to panels.

Aarif has held leadership positions – as a director, trustee, lawyer, or investigator – in private practice, international courts or tribunals, and NGOs and international organisations. He is the founder of Accountability Unit, an NGO specialising in conflict-resolution and justice issues, as well as the Yazidi Justice Committee. Aarif continues to act as a consultant, or expert, to several United Nations bodies, and is available for instruction including through Justice Rapid Response. He sits on the board of several organisations.

Aarif’s most recent, and high-profile, work includes advising States on the initiative to create the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression committed in Ukraine (working with Prof. Philippe Sands KC and former heads of government), the Uyghur Tribunal (where he acted as co-counsel and principal legal advisor), the Yazidi Justice Committee (as founder), the Hazara Inquiry (as external advisor). Aarif has acted as an external advisor to various international initiatives including on the Genocide Determination Bill, Genocide Prevention Bill, and several All Party Parliamentary Groups concerning international law and/or foreign policy.

Aarif regularly writes for several publications including The Times, POLITICO, Politics Home, the House Magazine and Justice Gap and is often asked for comment for the Guardian, Associated Press, Forbes, EuroNews, LBC News among others. Aarif is also frequently requested as a public speaker on international justice issues.

Aarif graduated from the University of Oxford in Politics, Philosophy and Economics BA (MA) and the University of Bologna where he obtained an MA in Human Rights with a specialism in public international law. He is author of the book, A Constitution of the People and How to Achieve It (published by Columbia University and Ibidem Press, 2021).

International Law

Aarif is an experienced policy and legal adviser on matters concerning international criminal law and public international law including international human rights law. He has a demonstrated history of working in courts, non-governmental organisations and international organisations. Aarif has advised widely on conflict resolution and the legal implications thereof in relation to conflicts in Turkey, Iraq, Myanmar, Syria, the former Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Libya and others.

Aarif completed a Master’s degree in Human Rights, with distinction, from the University of Bologna in 2013. He has extensive experience in drafting applications/submissions to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), United Nations Special Procedures, United Nations Treaty Bodies and other international courts, tribunals and panels. He undertook a placement in the Office of the President and the UK division of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) where he assisted judges in an advisory and drafting capacity in relation to decisions/judgments issued by the Court. He was also a legal officer at the former United Nations International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (UNICTY).

Aarif regularly undertakes advisory and drafting work on international law matters both on a consultancy and pro-bono basis. Examples of Aarif’s international work either as a member of a court chamber or as a solicitor can be found under the subheading ‘Notable cases’.

Aarif is a formal member of several prominent panels which advise on international human rights or criminal law issues. His memberships can be found under the subheading ‘Memberships’.

Aarif is an author or co-author of the following reports, briefings, opinions: [Principal Co-Author] “State Responsibility and the Yazidi Genocide”, published in Jul 2022 by the Yazidi Justice Committee, available here. [Principal Co-Author] “The responsibility of states under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims”, published by the Bar Human Rights Committee in Jul 2020, available here. [Principal Co-Author]. A full list of publications appears below; [Author] Uyghur Tribunal – Advisory opinion on the applicable law on genocide and crimes against humanity – Oct 2021 [Author and Lead, other counsel are signatories only], available here; Accountability Unit – Legal briefings on ICL, IHRL or IHL – various for Accountability Unit – 2020 – Present, available here; IBA Human Rights Institute – High-Level Briefing Paper on the Genocide Amendment to the UK Trade Bill – Jan 2021, available here. A full list of published works appears under ‘Publications’

International Human Rights Law

Aarif’s public international law (PIL) work spans several different practice areas and countries, and he continues to advise individuals, companies, public interest groups and states in respect of public international law claims.

His PIL matters have included case work and/or the provision of advice at the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, Bar Human Rights Committee, EU Delegation to the UK, European Court of Human Rights, Accountability Unit, Public International Law and Policy Group (PILPG), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), US Centre for Disease Control, and the Democratic Progress Institute.

Aarif remains a consultant at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) advising widely on the application of human rights to public policy. He also continues to work (as a co-founder) with the consultancy, Accountability Unit, which advises parliamentarians, practitioners, NGOs and others on legal redress (including State Responsibility) for gender-related harm in conflict settings, including on issues related to genocide, discrimination, torture, and slavery among others. Aarif was invited to join the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Pro Bono Lawyer’s Panel, which provides legal assistance to local practitioners representing British nationals imprisoned overseas.

Some of his current or recent work includes:

  • Writing a book on comparative constitutional law which considers the process of creating and amending constitutions and how such processes can impact possible future conflict: A Constitution of the People and How to Achieve It (2021, CUP)
  • Drafting a paper for the Bar Human Rights Committee on duties on States under international law to the Uyghurs and other Chinese Muslims who face alleged violations of international criminal and international human rights law
  • Founder of an international ad hoc committee (Yazidi Justice Committee) advising/representing a client NGO on state responsibility and violations of international criminal and human rights law relating to crimes committed against a minority group in Iraq and Syria (international criminal law; public international law). Produced a ground-breaking report in Jul 22
  • Advising a Rohingya network on the proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) between The Gambia v Myanmar on possible third-party intervention in the matter; on gaps in evidence/submissions in the current proceedings; and advising on implementation of the interim measures in the case
  • Advising UK parliamentarians on the reform of the law relating to genocide and crimes against humanity and making effective UK obligations under the Rome Statute, Genocide Convention, UNCAT and the Geneva Conventions
  • Supervising and undertaking research on public international law, minority rights, gender and equality law, SGBV and applying that research in litigation and advocacy submissions.
  • Counselling and advising on issues relating to UK law enforcement authorities’ violations of human rights of individuals
  • Advising, as a consultant, on how to conduct strategic litigation to advance the issue of constitutional reform in Bosnia and counselling litigants challenging discriminatory laws before the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and ultimately the ECtHR

International Criminal and Humanitarian Law

Aarif has extensive experience working on international criminal (ICL) and humanitarian law (IHL) issues spanning over a decade. He has conducted litigation, advocacy, research, mentoring and investigation work on international criminal law matters related to a number of countries. He continues to lecture and advise widely on ICL and IHL issues and, in particular, on mass atrocity crimes. He is currently on the roster of candidates for instruction for several United Nations bodies.

Some of his current or recent work includes:

  • Advising the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ukrainian Presidency on setting up a tribunal relating to the crime of aggression as allegedly being committed in Ukraine by Russia, aided by Belarus
  • Provision of advice to several States, international organisations and NGOs on the crime of aggression and the creation of an ad hoc tribunal to hold military and political leaders in Russia and Belarus accountable.
  • Principal Legal Adviser, Co-Counsel and Co-Founder of an international independent people’s tribunal (Uyghur Tribunal) investigating allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity committed against a minority group in China
  • Advising an international NGO on allegations of forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience in China and also providing preliminary advice to another group related to alleged violations of customary law/genocide convention/CAH/UNCAT by Chinese officials in relation to alleged violations against the certain minority groups (international criminal law); Assisting the Bar Human Rights Committee on the relevant applicable laws in relation to the same.
  • Advising/representing a client NGO on violations of international criminal and human rights law relating to crimes committed against a minority groups in Iraq and Syria (international criminal law; public international law).
  • Advising/representing on the application of the law relating to genocide – in particular, the Genocide Convention – to historic crimes in Iran in relation to a minority group and considering actions under Universal Jurisdiction and/or other possible action in domestic courts.
  • Advising/representing clients in relation to historic crimes / continuing violations in the former Yugoslavia (providing preliminary advice on international criminal law and international human rights law in relation to crimes committed in Bosnia and Kosovo).
  • Managing witness evidence and drafting decisions, orders and parts of eventual judgments following deliberations with judges in the trial and appeal chambers of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (UNICTY)

International Arbitration and Sanctions

Aarif has advised individuals, companies, public interest groups and states in international arbitration cases. This has included cases related to public international law at Slaughter and May (where he trained, qualified and practised).

Aarif’s international arbitration and public international law work has spanned a number of different practice areas: acting as counsel in commercial arbitration matters; advising on judicial review of government decisions impacting companies; advising on international arbitration cases concerning public international law; applying for injunctions and disclosure orders; leading seminars on state expropriation of property under public international law; advising on compliance with international sanctions (Iran, Cuba and Libya); advising on a variety of regulatory matters; advising on the new UK/European financial regulations; and litigating and advising widely on human rights matters in the UK and a number of other countries including issues arising from equality and anti-discrimination law.

Some of his current or recent work includes:

  • Conducting work on commercial arbitrations and advisory work in relation to international arbitrations
  • Advising a consortium in interested parties and State officials on best practice in relation to implementation of a sanctions regime compliant with international law
  • Creating a non-profit entity to undertake advocacy, policy and training in relation to public international law issues affecting Ukraine during and following the armed conflict since 2014, including but not limited to:

– legal responsibility for acts of aggression committed in Ukraine, as determined by the United Nations, and creating appropriate international legal mechanisms for accountability.

– advocating for reparations for victims and survivors of violations of: the international prohibition on the use of force, the international prohibition on aggression, and international human rights law during the armed conflict in Ukraine from 2013 onwards.

– campaigning for the application of international law by preventing the deportation and the ensuring the return of abducted children from Ukraine.

Public Law

Aarif has a long-standing interest in all types of public law challenge and has transferable expertise in cases involving public international law and international human rights law.

Aarif has advised individuals, companies, public interest groups and states in judicial review and civil claims, whether for claimants or respondents. This has included public law cases at Slaughter and May (where he trained, qualified, and practised), the Court of Appeal (as a judicial assistant), the European Court of Human Rights, Accountability Unit, Public International Law and Policy Group and Democratic Progress Institute.

Aarif’s public law work has spanned a number of different practice areas: advising on judicial review of HMRC decisions; advising on international arbitration cases concerning public international law; applying for injunctions and disclosure orders; leading a seminar on state expropriation of property under public international law; advising on compliance with international sanctions (Iran, Cuba and Libya); advising on a variety of regulatory matters; advising on the new UK/European financial regulations; and litigating and advising widely on human rights matters in the UK and a number of other countries including issues arising from equality and anti-discrimination law.

Aarif is a former judicial assistant to Sir John Mummery QC at the Court of Appeal and a judicial assistant in the Office of the President and the UK Division of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Examples of decisions which were handed down when he was a judicial assistant (and on which he had substantive involvement) can be found under the subheading ‘Notable cases’.

Criminal Law and Protest Rights

Aarif regularly appears in the Magistrates Court and Crown Court and has acted extensively for protestors accused with a variety of crimes of varying seriousness (including from groups protesting about fox hunting, climate change, animal rights, international crimes and serious rights violations including situations of apartheid and discrimination, crimes against humanity and/or genocide).

In the Crown Court, Aarif has represented clients on matters related to criminal damage, public nuisance, sexual and gender-based violence, drug related offences including the application of POCA, and assaults occasioning ABH/GBH. He has experience dealing with vulnerable clients and those with mental health conditions.

In the Magistrates Court, Aarif has acted in numerous matters from first appearance through to trial. This has included defending clients who have been alleged to have carried out criminal damage, aggravated trespass, public nuisance, assault, violent offences, contravened tobacco regulations, as well as violations of road traffic law.

Clients have found Aarif to be very personable and have valued his calm, meticulous, and methodical approach in preparing cases. Defendants have appreciated his manner in conference and in particular his provision of sound advice of the court process, the nature of the offence of which they are charged, as well as their rights and entitlements as defendants.

Aarif brings valuable transferable skills from his extensive experience both as a solicitor and barrister in international criminal law as well as public law.

Immigration and Asylum

Aarif is instructed on the full range of immigration and asylum law and human rights issues arising thereof.

Aarif appears regularly in the First-Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal and takes a particular interest in advisory work and public law (judicial review) challenges to State decision-making. He has successfully represented many clients facing deportation and unlawful detention.

Notable Cases

International law

  • Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression as allegedly being committed in Ukraine – creation of a new ad hoc tribunal which will concern alleged responsibility for Russian and Belarussian leaders for the crime of aggression – acting as sole junior led by Prof Philippe Sands KC. [2022 – Present]
  • Hazara Inquiry into Alleged Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity. [2022 – Present]
  • Advisory Work – Genocide Determination Bill 2022; Genocide Amendment to the Trade Bill 2019-2021; Genocide Amendments to Other Bills 2022 [2019 – Present]
  • Yazidi Justice Committee – Major international report + work in pursuance of bringing an ICJ case; ancillary cases are being brought [2021 – Present]
  • Uyghur Tribunal – People’s Tribunal on allegations relating to genocide and crimes against humanity [2021-2022] + BHRC Report on State Responsibility and the Uyghurs. [2020]
  • Advisory Work – UNAIDS/CDC/WHO – Global Partnership on Ending HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination. [2018 – Present]
  • Mladić (IT-09-92) “Bosnia and Herzegovina”, Trial Chamber I, ICTY – Prosecution of Ratko Mladic, the wartime military commander of the Bosnian Serbs, for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. (Work involved substantive and procedural issues).
  • Prlić et al. (IT-04-74) “Bosnia and Herzegovina”, Appeals Chamber, ICTY – Prosecution of members of the Croatian Defence Council for war crimes and crimes against humanity. (Work involved procedural issues).
  • Stanišić & Župljanin (IT-08-91) “Bosnia and Herzegovina”, Appeals Chamber, ICTY – Prosecution of members of the state security services of Serbia for war crimes and crimes against humanity. (Work involved procedural issues).
  • Chiragov and others v Armenia (13216/05), Grand Chamber, European Court of Human Rights – Case regarding the rights to property (Article 1, Protocol 1) and rights to private and family life (Article 8) of Azeri nationals who were forcibly displaced from their home territory in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of former Soviet Azerbaijan.
  • Kaytan v Turkey (27422/05), European Court of Human Rights – Case concerning complaint that the applicant’s life sentence had no possibility of a review.
  • Tunc v Turkey (24014/05), European Court of Human Rights – Case that alleged effectiveness of investigation by respondent state into death was impaired on account of a lack of independence of the court upholding a decision to discontinue the proceedings.
  • Cerf v Turkey (12938/07), European Court of Human Rights – Case against respondent state for failure to investigate the murder of an activist suspected to have been carried out by state agents.
  • Yoyler and others v Turkey (10783/07) – Case concerning complaint that proceedings before the national courts had not been concluded within a reasonable time and that there was no effective remedy under Turkish law.
  • Zelal Ozgokce v Turkey (29779/09) – Case concerns the alleged unfairness of the criminal proceedings due to the systemic restriction imposed on the applicant’s right of access to a lawyer during the pre-trial stage (communicated – pending).
  • Canpolat (3) v Turkey (26944/08) – Case concerning educational committees of certain prisons deciding not to allow the applicants to receive certain editions of miscellaneous periodicals and/or other publications (some of which were in the Kurdish language) on various different grounds.

Public Law

Civil and social rights

  • O’Neill and Lauchlan v. the United Kingdom (nos. 41516/10 and 75702/13), European Court of Human Rights – Case concerning complaint about the excessive length of criminal proceedings brought against the applicants. [JA at Court of Appeal]
  • The Hospital Medical Group v Colin Westwood [2012] EWCA Civ 1005 – Challenge against a decision that the respondent was a “worker” for the purposes of the Employment Rights Act 1996 s.230(3)(b). [JA at Court of Appeal]
  • Supervising and undertaking research on public international law, minority rights, gender and equality law, SGBV and applying that research in litigation and advocacy submissions.
  • Counselling and advising on issues relating to UK law enforcement authorities’ violations of human rights of individuals.
  • Advising, as a consultant, on how to conduct strategic litigation to advance the issue of constitutional reform in Bosnia and counselling litigants challenging discriminatory laws before the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and ultimately the ECtHR.

Publications

The majority of Aarif’s written or advisory work is subject to confidentiality agreements and, therefore, cannot be disclosed. Please feel free to contact the clerking team, for further information.

  • POLITICO Europe – There ought to be no hiding place for Putin – Mar 2023. Available here.
  • Law.com – Why a special tribunal on Ukraine is critical for justice for all, with Dr. Carrie McDougall – Jan 2023. Available here.
  • The House Magazine – The UK’s support is critical to establish a special tribunal to prosecute Russian crimes of aggression – Dec 2022. Available here.
  • Politics Home – Countries must face the International Court of Justice over Yazidi genocide – Jul 2022. Available here.
  • Yazidi Justice Committee – State Responsibility and the Yazidi Genocide – Jul 2022 [Principal Co-Author]. Available here.
  • The House Magazine – The UK must support a special international tribunal to try Putin for the war in Ukraine – May 2022. Available here.
  • The Times – We need a special tribunal to bring Putin to justice – Mar 2022. Available here.
  • Uyghur Tribunal – Advisory opinion on the applicable law on genocide and crimes against humanity – Oct 2021 [Author and Lead, other counsel are signatories only] Available here.
  • Accountability Unit – Legal briefings on ICL, IHRL or IHL – various for Accountability Unit – 2020 – Present. Available here.
  • St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace and Reconciliation – Pathways of resistance: Resilience, potentiality and power in the pursuit of justice – Feb 2022. Available here.
  • A Constitution of the People: Achieving a Durable Peace in Bosnia – Jun 2021. Available here.
  • Columbia University Press and Ibidem Press – A Constitution of the People and How to Achieve It – Published Book – 2021. Available here.
  • The Justice Gap – Is Britain in a constitutional crisis and, if so, is it terminal? – Apr 2021. Available here.
  • IBA Human Rights Institute – High-Level Briefing Paper on the Genocide Amendment to the UK Trade Bill – Jan 2021. Available here.
  • Bar Human Rights Committee – The responsibility of states under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims – Jul 2020 [Principal Co-Author]. Available here.
  • UNAIDS submission to Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the draft General Recommendation on Trafficking in Women and Girls in Context of Global Migration – May 2020. Available here.
  • The Justice Gap – Why lawyers are complicit in an unjust system – Dec 2019. Available here.
  • Garden Court North Chambers – An assessment of Judge de Prada’s dissent, in the Karadžić Appeals Judgment, on genocide in seven Bosnian municipalities – May 2019. Available here.
  • Garden Court North Chambers – Barbarism is beneath us: States’ reluctant commitment to the European Court of Human Rights in an age of authoritarianism (five-part series) – Dec 2018. Available here.
  • European Journal of International Law: Talk! – First and second degree genocide? Considering a case for bifurcation of the law – Jun 2018. Available here.
  • Accountability Unit – Brief Note No. 2: Revisions to Turkish legislation on sexual abuse of children – Jan 2017. Available here.
  • Accountability Unit – Open Letter No.1 – Letter to the Turkish Parliament regarding the law on sexual exploitation of children – Nov 2016. Available here.
  • Accountability Unit – Legal Note No. 1: Conflict related sexual violence – Sep 2016. Available here.
  • Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World – LAU – Sexual Violence in Syria: Taking Charge of Future Prosecution – Jul 2016.
  • DPI – Legal Factsheet: Use of torture in conflict situations – Jun 2016. Available here.
  • DPI – Legal Factsheet: Conflict related gender-based rights – Oct 2015. Available here.
  • UK Human Rights Blog – Strasbourg Court opens door to complaints by refugees displaced during conflict – Jun 2015. Available here.
  • DPI – Legal Factsheet: International human rights in armed conflicts – Dec 2014, Available here.
  • DPI – Legal Factsheet: Sexual and gender based violence in conflict – Nov 2014. Available here.
  • University of Bologna – The Revolving Door of Reform: Addressing the Dilemma of Constitutional Change in Bosnia and Herzegovina – December 2013. Available here.
  • PILPG – Briefing Note: An EU supremacy clause for the BiH State Constitution – July 2013
  • EIUC – Global Campus Joint Statement on MDGs Post-2015 Agenda – Oct 2013. Available here.
  •  EIUC – Revitalising the Rights Discourse: A Critical Appraisal of the Application of the Millennium Development Goals in South East Europe – Apr 2013. Available here.

Speaking Engagements and Seminars

  • Lietuvos Respublikos teisingumo ministerija / Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania, the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus and Law and Democracy Center “Justice Hub” – Responsibility for the Belarussian State’s alleged Crimes against Humanity and the Migrant Crisis – 12 Jun 2023
  • St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace – Celebrating Courage: Stories of Displacement & Home – 21 May 2023
  • Bar Human Rights Committee – Accountability for International Crimes in Myanmar – State Responsibility: ‘Diminishing Democracy: BHRC Panel on human rights and the rule of law in Myanmar’ – 7 Jun 2023
  • UK Parliament and APPGs on Genocide and CAH, Ukraine and International Law, Justice and Accountability – The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression – 28 Mar 2023
  • Embassy Delegations in the UK – hosted by Slovenian and Ukrainian Embassies – Accountability Processes in the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict – 27 Mar 2023
  • Oxford-Ukraine Summit 2023 – Individual Criminal Responsibility for Crimes in Ukraine and the Special Tribunal – 13 Mar 2023
  • Withers Worldwide LLP – Investigation, documentation, and prosecution of international crimes – 1 Mar 2023
  • Rene Cassin Institute – Ukraine: How the law can hold Putin to account – 23 Feb 2023
  • German Ministry of State for Culture and the Media, ENRS, Dokumentations Zentrum – A Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression allegedly being committed in Ukraine – 9 Feb 2023
  • UN Week Sarajevo & International Forum Bosnia – The Constitution of the People and How to Achieve It – 1 Feb 2023
  • Parliamentary Assembly for the Council of Europe – Side Event – First Session: The crime of aggression – Ukrainian Delegation – 23 January 2023
  • APPG on Ukraine – ICC accountability and the campaign for a special tribunal – 12 Dec 2022
  • Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Middle Temple Hall – Special tribunal for the crime of aggression and criminal responsibility for international crimes – 9 Dec 2022
  • NOHA and Lithuanian Ministry of Justice and Foreign Affairs – Mass atrocity crimes and state responsibility – 25 Oct 2022
  • Manchester International Law Centre – Justice for Ukraine: Too little, too late? – Oct 2022
  • Information Commissioner’s Office – Human rights reform and data privacy – The UK Bill of Rights and the ECHR – Sep 2022
  • Association of European Journalists – Holding Russia accountable – Sep 2022
  • Yazidi Justice Committee (in conjunction with APPGs/IBAHRI/BHRC) – State responsibility and the Yazidi genocide – major international report launch at Inter-Ministerial in Parliament – Jul 2022
  • Keeping Channels Open – Third session on Ukraine conflict – coordinating approaches / war crimes investigations – Jun 2022
  • Red Lion Chambers – Webinar on international crimes and the crime of aggression – May 2022
  • Lithuanian and Ukrainian Foreign Ministries – Vilnius conference on the crime of aggression – May 2022
  • Institute for Integrated Transitions, University College London and Glasgow University – Peace Treaty Initiative workshop – Contributing Participant – 16 May 2022
  • Oxford Forum for International Development (OxFID) 2022 – Creative approaches to accountability for genocide – Feb 2022
  • UK Parliament – APPG on Yazidis – Parliamentary briefing on State Responsibility for the Yazidi Genocide Parliament – Feb 2022
  • OUT-LINES – University of Manchester/GCN/Coalition for Genocide Response – Existential risks to Bosnia-Herzegovina – Nov 2021
  • Manchester International Law Centre – A constitution of the people – Book panel – Nov 2021
  • GNF & REFCEMI – Conditions of life calculated to destroy: towards the destruction of the Yazidis in the middle east? – Jul and May 2021 respectively
  • GNF – Precursor to mass atrocities: breakdown of the rule of law and failures to prevent – Jul 2021
  • Wilson Centre – A constitution of the people: achieving a durable peace in Bosnia – Jun 2021
  • Coalition for Genocide Response – The law relating to starvation under international law: the unfolding situation in Tigray – Jun 2021
  • OUT-LINES – Garden Court North Chambers in conjunction with Accountability Unit, ELSA, Public International Law Centre, University of Manchester – The ‘crime of crimes’: personal and legal reflections on genocide – Nov 2020
  • Geoffrey Nice Foundation (GNF) – State responsibility for genocide; duties on states under the Genocide Convention and the legacy of the ICTY – Jul 2020
  • GNF – Bosnian constitutional reform: an elusive endeavour to end a frozen conflict – Jul 2020
  • Human Rights Lawyers Association – Inequality in the UK and the law; why lawyers are complicit in an unjust system – Feb 2020
  • European Law Students’ Association, University of Manchester – Censorship and lawyers; an interplay of rights, roles, and responsibilities – Nov 2019
  • Transitional Justice Working Group (Seoul, South Korea), Geoffrey Nice Foundation (GNF), ICL Masterclass – Mass atrocity crimes and the European Court of Human Rights – Jul 2019
  • Young Legal Aid Lawyers – Human rights and the breakdown of rule of law in Europe – May 2019
  • Geoffrey Nice Foundation, ICL Masterclass – Reassessing and reviewing the laws relating to genocide and crimes against humanity – Jul 2018
  • GNF, Alumni Conference – Revision of the law relating to genocide and its possible bifurcation into first and second degree – Feb 2018
  • European Union FRAME, European Inter-University Centre – The role of courts in realising rights and access to justice in Turkey – Apr 2017
  • Institute for Women’s Studies, Beirut, Jun 2015; Geoffrey Nice Foundation (GNF) Nov 2016 – legal accountability for sexual violence in Syria and future prosecution of war crimes – Nov 2016
  • International Forum Bosnia – Human rights and gender inequality in post-conflict divided – Jul 2016
  • UNICTY – Facilitating future prosecution of sexual violence at international tribunals – Mar 2016
  • LSE, Women Peace Security Centre – Alternative methods of implementing the International Protocol on Documenting and Investigating Sexual Violence – Jan 2016
  • As a Member of the UNICTY Chambers’ Speakers Guild, Aarif delivered seminars, amongst others, on: the law relating to extermination, persecution and genocide (Jul 2016; Jan, Apr 2017); the Indictment against Ratko Mladić and associated law to the Trial Chamber (Apr 2014); post-conflict constitutional design in divided societies with lessons from Bosnia (Mar, 2014)

Memberships

  • Founder, Member and Consultant, pro bono, Accountability Unit (since 2015); Founder, Yazidi Justice Committee (since 2020); Advisor, Hazara Inquiry, UK Parliament (since 2022); Principal Advisor, Genocide Determination Bill 2022
  • External Advisor to APPGs on Genocide and CAH; APPG on Ukraine; APPG on International Law, Justice and Accountability (2020 – Present)
  • Co-opted Member, Bar Liaison Committee, Qualifying and Training Committee, Context of Law Series Committee, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (since 2020)
  • Associate, Manchester International Law Centre, University of Manchester (since 2021)
  • List of Specialist Co-Counsel, Defence Office and the Victims’ Participation Office, Kosovo Specialist Chambers, The Hague (since 2020)
  • Expert, Council of Experts, American Bar Association’s International, Criminal Justice Section (Atrocity Crimes Initiative) (since 2019)
  • Expert, Justice Rapid Response (JRR), International Criminal Law Justice Experts Roster & JRR-UN Women SGBV Justice Experts Roster (since 2018)
  • Advisor, Advisory Board, Centre for Access to Justice and Inclusion, Anglia Ruskin University (since 2020)
  • Trustee, Coalition for Genocide Response (since 2020)
  • Convener, International Law Team, Garden Court North Chambers (2020-2023)
  • Advisor, Advisory Board, Centre for Access to Justice and Inclusion, Anglia Ruskin University (since 2020)
  • Faculty Member, pro bono, Sir Geoffrey Nice Foundation (since 2018)
  • Rostered for instructions, International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (since 2016)
  • Rostered for instructions, UNAIDS and UNAIDS Technical Support Mechanism (since 2018)
  • Member, Bar Human Rights Committee (since 2019)
  • Member of the Society of the Inner Temple as a Barrister who has transferred to the Bar of England and Wales (since 2016)
  • Member of the Law Society of England and Wales as a Qualified Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (since 2011)

Education

Bar Standards Board & BPP University. Professional Bar Transfer Test, Advocacy, Ethics, and Legal Principles [2016-2017]

University of Bologna, MA (EU), Human Rights and Democratisation [2012–2013]

BPP University. Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice. [2008–2009]

The City Law School. Postgraduate Diploma in Law. [2007–2008]

University of Oxford. MA (Oxon), Politics, Philosophy and Economics. [2003–2006]

Top Tier Firm Rankings

Firm Rankings