Laura Shorten


Welcome 

I run my own freelance consultancy company as a human rights researcher, writer and strategic communications leader. 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 working as head of Communications and Resarch at Align Socail Impact, a consultancy firm based in New York, the United States.

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.

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 •

Women's Rights in the MENA Region: Progress & Obstacles

A Background to Women’s Rights in the MENA Region

Gender equality is a fundamental human right and an imperative foundation which lays the groundwork for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. The development of women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has seen much progress and obstacles over the past decade. However, the unequal status of women stands out as a particularly challenging problem.

Following “International Women’s Day” last month, this article provi
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 •

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 •

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 ©