Maricel Seno, The Philippines

Maricel is a former legal officer for the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines - the country’s national human rights institution. She was principally responsible for legal research on human rights complaints brought before the Commission. While working, she also participated as a full scholar in the Hague Academy of International Law External Program and the East-West Center Summer Institute on IHL and Human Rights.

Maricel has a BA in Philosophy from the Ateneo de Manila University and a JD from the University of the Philippines, where she received the University Chancellor’s Award for Academic Achievement for her leadership and success in international law moot court competitions. While earning her law degree, she worked as a research assistant for the University of the Philippines Law Center Institute of International Legal Studies where she developed an interest for international humanitarian and human rights law.

Maricel’s main fields of interest are: legal enforcement mechanisms for economic, social and cultural rights, treaty implementation, migration, conflict resolution, and international humanitarian law and criminal law. She hopes to venture into human rights policy work after she earns her degree.