We are more than happy to welcome our new fellow from Canada – Aliya Behar, part of our joint initiative with McGill Law International Human Rights Internship Program.

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Aliya is going into her third year of the BCL/JD program at McGill University’s Faculty of Law. Prior to studying law, she pursued a collegial degree in Health Sciences from Marianopolis College. Aliya is thrilled to be paired with BCNL for the summer through the McGill Law International Human Rights Internship Program.

Aliya’s interest in human rights work is underpinned by its potential to concretely and positively impact individuals’ lives. This is what compels her to advocate for the release and return of Canadian political prisoners through her work as the Co-Executive Director of the Wallenberg Advocacy Group, and as a legal intern with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights last summer. Aliya’s passion for justice is what deeply excites her about working with BCNL for the summer, through which she looks forward to expanding her interests in the intersections between human rights work, health, and technology.

Aliya will be involved in BCNL work on disability rights, fundamental freedoms, and promotion of civil society. She has chosen to focus her research on exploring the Bulgarian legal standard for hate speech, and how foreign and international jurisdictions balance discrimination with freedom of expression. She is inspired to be working on these topical human rights issues in the Bulgarian context and to spread the word about BCNL’s work in Canada upon her return.

We hope that at the end of her stay and work with us, she will be inspired by the achievement of human rights movement in Bulgaria and the work that CSOs do.