Laura Shorten


Welcome 

I am an international human rights specialist for the Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition (CHRAC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I work as CHRAC's ambassador promoting justice reform in Cambodia. 

Moreover, I run my own freelance consultancy company as a human rights researcher, writer and social media manager. I am originally from Dublin, Ireland. However, I have been based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for four years. I graduated from Leiden University in 2021 with an Advanced Master's in International Children's Rights (LL.M).

I am passionate about human rights, international law, global diplomacy, climate change, politics and project management. I thrive in dynamic environments and quickly adapt to the ever-changing demands of the international legal field. I possess academic rigour with a  journalistic flair. 

I am currently accepting new clients and consultancy work, and I am always open to new opportunities with people who share similar passions to me.

You can contact me at the links below. 

Most Recent Work by Laura Shorten

Mzemo •

26 Million People Affected By Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Powerful earthquakes and aftershocks struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on the 6th and 20th of February, 2023.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 26 million people need humanitarian assistance. The death toll is climbing above 50,000 and is expected to rise as many victims remain missing.

Furthermore, the WHO calls the Turkey-Syria earthquakes the “worst natural disaster” in the region in 100 years.

On February 6th 2023, the first earthquake hit southeastern Turkey and
Mzemo •

Yemen's Humanitarian Catastrophe 2023: Explained

Yemen has been experiencing an armed conflict and humanitarian crisis since 2015, with seven brutal years of pain, fear, bloodshed and death. This article provides an update on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen as of February 2023.

Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when Houthi insurgents—Shiite rebels with links to Iran and a history of rising against the Sunni government—took control of Yemen’s capital and largest city, Sana’a, demanding lower fuel prices and a new government.

Two-thirds of the
Mzemo •

The Repatriation of ISIS Children Detained in Camps in Northeast Syria 2022

For the past four years, thousands of prisoners, primarily women and children, from the Islamic State (ISIS), have been arbitrarily detained in camps in northeast Syria. Approximatley, 42,200 people are currently detained in the camps despite the recently increased repatriation of women and children. Recent Turkish air and artillery strikes have exacerbated the dangerous circumstances in the camps. These Turkish strikes cut off electricity and stopped the water supply. They severely impacted fue
Mzemo •

COP27 Climate Change Summit: Greenwashing Scam Imperilling Human Rights

Morally, politically and economically COP27 climate change summit has been coined as a greenwashing scam imperilling human rights.

The world watched Egypt closely as it hosted the 27th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh from the 8th-16th of November. More than 190 governments attended COP27 to attempt to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Furthermore, Egypt hosting COP27 sparked much controversy due to its abysmal human rights
Mzemo •

Mahsa Amini: Iranian Women Are Leading an Extraordinary Revolution

The Death of Mahsa Amini Ignited an Unprecedented Wave of Protests Across Iran

On the 16th of September 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died in the custody of Iran’s morality police following her arrest for improper wear of hijab. Both Mahsa and her brother were beaten at the time of her arrest.

Iran’s morality police routinely arbitrarily detain women who do not comply with their discriminatory and compulsory veiling laws. The death of Mahsa Amini was the powder keg mo
Mzemo •

The Western Hypocrisy of Russia v Israel Reveals An Outrageous Moral and Legal Duplicity

The Annexation of Land by Force Under International Law – Western Hypocrisy

Western hypocrisy is ever-present as we see differing responses to the annexation of land by Russia in Ukraine in comparison to Israel’s continued annexation of Palestinian land since 1947. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on September 30th 2022 that Russia would annexe four regions in Ukraine. These regions are Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, now referred to as “new regions” of Russia.

The UN Se
Mzemo •

Myanmar’s Genocide on the Rohingya Muslims: An Inspiring Interview with a Heroic Refugee

Authors Note – This week’s article is a special edition as I have collaborated with a Rohingya refugee living in Cox’s Bazaar camp in Bangladesh after fleeing the Myanmar genocide. His name is Jamal Hossain. I have also collaborated with Rohingyatographer Magazine, a unique project created by a team of talented photographers based in Cox’s Bazaar. They have kindly allowed me to share some of their thought-provoking photography. A special thank you to both collaborations.

The above image is by ©
Mzemo •

Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians Reveals West's Double Standards

A ceasefire on Sunday, 7th August 2022, ended another unjustified three-day Israeli bombardment in the besieged apartheid Gaza strip. Devastating figures reveal the civilian cost of the escalation and the impact of crimes against humanity in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced operation “Breaking Dawn” on Friday, 5th August 2022. Israel fired shots at targets it claimed were linked to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), killing a senior commander in th