Nicola Barrach-Yousefi joined the ICNC team in 2008. She holds a JD from the University of Paris, Panthéon-Sorbonne, a Master’s degree in political science and development studies from the Institute for Political Studies (Sciences-Po) in Paris, and a Master’s degree in human rights and humanitarian law from the University of Paris, Panthéon-Assas.
She previously worked at the Council of Europe, UNESCO and the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) at the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.
Nicola is also the founder of HumanRightsConnected.com, an online project that aims to improve the capacity of human rights activists to effectively leverage knowledge on human rights law and international mechanisms to benefit their nonviolent movements or campaigns.
As Director for Civic and New Media Initiatives, Nicola has launched ICNC’s People Power iPhone app and more recently the Civil Resistance Learning Initiatives Network, a pilot program that aims to develop independent civil resistance educational activities of local grassroots organizations. Nicola also spearheads ICNC’s effort to foster the growing and vibrant FSI Alumni community. Currently based in Paris, France, she is working to build strategic relationships with human rights groups and key European institutions and organizations. In her free time, Nicola is a passionate amateur photographer and aspiring flamenco dancer.