Credits: Dr. Stephanie Triefus

On 1 January 2024, Dr. Stephanie Triefus began her new role as the Academic Coordinator of the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research. The first six months have been a bit of a whirlwind for Stephanie as not only did she start her new job at the Asser Institute, but she has also defended her PhD and married the love of her life. Stephanie sat down with Dr. Amy Weatherburn from the HRH Editorial Board for a cup of coffee to take stock of her accomplishments so far in 2024 and to find out what she hopes to achieve in the coming years.

Thank you, Stephanie, for accepting our invitation to talk to us and to share a little about you so that NNHRR members and blog readers can get to know you.

First, congratulations on your new position! The HRH Editorial Board is excited to collaborate with you in strengthening the NNHRR network. We would like to hear your expectations for your new position.

But first, can you tell us a bit about yourself, and what initially sparked your interest in (international) human rights law?

Thank you! I am really enjoying taking on this role since I have benefited so much from the Network as a PhD member. I’m originally from Australia, and my interest was sparked in human rights when I was in high school, and the news was full of stories about Australia’s refugee policies that sent people to live in horrible conditions on Nauru and Manus Island. I wanted to understand how events of the past have shaped what society is like today, and particularly situations of inequality. Through engaging in Model United Nations at university I got to know the UN human rights system, both its potential and its flaws. I was intrigued by how international law grapples with problems of both law and international relations in trying (and often failing) to address some of the most pressing global issues.

How is human rights law of importance to your research interests and areas of expertise as a scholar?

My research focus is business and human rights, so I am interested in how we try to prevent businesses from violating human rights and hold them accountable when they do. With more than 70 years of development of human rights law you would think that we would be further along in this project than we are, but it is still a huge struggle to even articulate what kind of standards businesses should be held to. During my PhD I looked at the interaction between international investment law and human rights. International investment law allows foreign investors to sue states directly, challenging state measures that often protect human rights and the environment. Human rights are beginning to make an appearance in international investment law and arbitration, but on a very superficial level that does not disturb the underlying issues with the regime.

What do you think are the most pressing issues in international human rights law today?

Conflict and climate change are affecting humanity on a massive scale, and the worst effects are imposed on people who have been made vulnerable by the ongoing ordering of global society along colonial lines. These problems need to be considered in their historical context and the root causes of inequality named and addressed.

Taking these concerns into account, why do you think it is important for human right academics to collaborate and engage in the NNHRR?

The NNHRR is a forum where people approaching the same problems from different perspectives, or different problems from the same perspective, can meet, learn from one another, and pass on their knowledge to the next generation of scholars. Whether it is through the discussions of our themed working groups, research workshops on human rights topics organised by members, PhD trainings where our junior members learn skills that set them up for their career in human rights research, or our annual conference (Toogdag) that brings the network together, our members are constantly tackling hard questions together.

As you settle into your new role as the new Academic Coordinator of the NNHRR, what would you say is your biggest goal for the Network?

I understand the importance of the Network for PhDs very well because I benefited from the PhD trainings and made a lot of wonderful connections within the Network throughout my PhD trajectory. My goal is to continue improving the opportunities we create for our PhD members and help them capitalise on the network of excellent scholars that has been built up by the hard work of my predecessors. There are a couple of new developments in the works that will be shared in due course!

In addition to this goal for the NNHRR as Academic Coordinator, what do you foresee as the next steps for your own research?

I am looking forward to continuing the work I started in my PhD, which is to empirically investigate how the rights of local communities are affected by international investment law. I also plan to dive into the nexus between business’ human rights responsibilities and climate change, since businesses have so much potential both to send us to our doom and to provide the solutions we need to survive.

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to our questions. Can you leave us with a small piece of personal info to give us a sense of who you are beyond academia, for example, what is your favourite way to relax and unwind?

My favourite way to relax and unwind is to go to the beach with my family and our 5-month-old puppy, Sammy. Watching Sammy and the kids chasing the waves reminds me that although there are a lot of problems in the world, sometimes you just need to feel the sand between your toes.

Bio:

Dr Stephanie Triefus is a Researcher at the T.M.C. Asser Institute in the field of business and human rights, and international economic law. She is the Academic Coordinator of the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research, and an Assistant Professor in international law at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Stephanie received her PhD cum laude from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her PhD thesis investigated international investment law and the participatory rights of people affected by foreign investment projects through qualitative empirical legal research.