Rights Review (RR): Which organization did you work for, and in which city and country?
Michelle LaFortune (ML): Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), in Accra, Ghana.
RR: What were the highlights of your fellowship?
ML: My fellowship allowed me to work on novel legal claims, where a legal background and research skills could only take you so far. The ACA team relied on each other in the office, collaborating to find innovative approaches to protect communities’ land claims in West Africa.
RR: What were some of the challenges that you faced this summer?
ML: Initially, my greatest challenge was getting up to speed on the different sources of international human rights law. Later, I was expected to conduct legal research at both the international and domestic level. It was especially difficult finding cases from certain countries in Africa, as the databases and legal research platforms—if they existed at all—were much less accessible and comprehensive than Westlaw or Quicklaw.
RR: What were some of your first impressions of the country/city where you completed your fellowship? How/did these impressions change over time?
ML: Accra is a vibrant city. It is well known for gorgeous, colorful fabrics and a lively arts scene. While I was there, I was able to attend fashion shows, take dance lessons, and see a lot of live music. At first, I was a little overwhelmed by all Accra had to offer, but by the end I felt completely immersed in its culture and city life.
RR: Share anything interesting about your experience (best meal, favourite memory, etc.)
ML: I was able to make lifelong friends in Accra. Some of us formed a soup club to try all the varieties of soup Ghanaian cuisine has to offer.
RR: What advice do you have for students hoping to be an IHRP fellow next year?ML: Find a cause you are interested in and want to learn more about. Reach out to organizations who engage with that issue abroad. The issues we deal with here in Canada are also discussed around the world. The opportunity to travel and see how that cause is approached abroad broadens your perspective and makes you a more well-rounded advocate.
