“I have just started a new project this week: my boss at SISHA was hired for a consultancy by the UNODC to prepare an assessment of human trafficking in Cambodia. I am working on the legal part of the final report, so I’m looking at statutes and laws that pertain to trafficking in any way like labor law, contract law, migration, criminal law, and then looking at how those laws are enforced (if they are enforced). I’m also looking at the criminal prosecutions and assessing how the prosecutions unfold. And I’m looking at the way the government regulates, monitors, or streamlines NGOs and how the government itself takes preventative measures. The report is assessing whether Cambodia should and could use a victim referral mechanism, which would streamline what is a chaotic landscape of services for victims. It’s really a good project because I am getting exposure to the human trafficking issue from all sides in this country. I absolutely love SISHA. I feel like I’ve had very substantive work the whole time- not always “purely” legal but useful all the same.”
Tag Archives: Asia
Stephen Lam (JD ’13), on his 2011 Chayes Fellowship work with InfraCo Asia, Singapore
“My major projects so far have included doing research into Bilateral Investment Treaties across SE Asia to determine which countries have the most benefits for a donor-led infrastructure development initiative, and drafting and reviewing term sheets and joint development agreements for a power plant in Bangladesh, a bridge project in Vietnam, and an agricultural development project in Cambodia. All of these assignments have allowed me to combine my legal analysis skills from HLS with specific opportunities to leverage my interest in infrastructure development and SE Asia in specific, and all in all, it’s been a great experience thus far. Over the next four weeks, it looks like I will be continuing to work on documentation/research tasks related to a couple of infrastructure projects in Cambodia and Bangladesh, and will be accompanying the Deputy Managing Director on a trip to Bangkok to meet with potential development partners.”
Chris Yap (JD ’12), spending a semester abroad at Peking University in Beijing, China
“I’ve spent the spring semester of my 2L year studying abroad at Peking University. Despite the plethora of resources available at HLS, certain aspects of the experience abroad simply cannot be replicated at home. If you can see beyond the superficial, formalistic distinctions between legal systems, studying abroad can offer deep insight into real differences between approaches to studying law and perspectives on what the law is and should be. At the same time, it offers a great opportunity to examine shared undercurrents that flow between legal systems, and provides an excellent means by which to reflect upon our own legal education.”
Ben Luis (LLM ’11) on presenting his research at the Child Advocacy Program Working Paper Luncheon Series
“The Child Advocacy Program Working Paper Luncheon Series offered me a unique opportunity to pursue my interest in schools for indigenous children in the Philippines. While conducting research for my paper, I was completely surprised to find out that the oldest school for teaching Filipino culture in the United States is located in the Greater Boston area! It was fun presenting my paper as my fellow Igorots (Indigenous Peoples in the Northern Region of the Philippines) living in Massachusetts took time off their busy schedule to attend. Overall, the luncheon series was an amazing opportunity to reflect on my ethnic roots while discussing strategies for improving the education of indigenous children.”
Charles Wharton (JD ’12) on his spring break trip to Taiwan with the Harvard Asia Law Society
“Approximately twenty other students and I went to Taiwan during Spring Break for the Harvard Asia Law Society (HALS) annual delegation. We met with representatives from the Taiwan Stock Exchange, a major law firm, a computer-maker, National Taiwan University College of Law, and also with President Ma Ying-Jeou (SJD ‘81). For fun, we went to a hot spring spa and tried all kinds of delicious Taiwanese food. The most valuable part of the trip for me was comparing the work and research I do in my Housing Law clinic and Financial and Legal Services seminar with attorneys at the Taiwan Legal Aid Foundation.”