Firdaus Khalil

I studied International Relations both at Undergraduate and Master's level, with my main focus on Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs, Peace and Conflict Studies, as well as Development Studies. I also studied Broadcast Journalism. I am particularly zealous about Human Rights. My thesis focused on “Women In Islam and Human Rights in the Contemporary Age.” My study analyzed the challenges and conditions that women have, their inherent human rights, and their emancipation to create exemplary influential roles. I looked into Gender Relations in a Historical and Comparative Perspective where I highlighted the fact that the 1945 United Nations Charter and the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights anchored the preliminary official global acknowledgment of women’s rights, equality, and non-discrimination centering on gender. 

The subject of Human Rights in its entirety is indispensable. Issues on Climate Justice, Women Equality and Sustainable Development are subjects I am conversant with. Furthermore, I did a course on International Law as part of the requirements of my Degrees in International Relations. 

I latterly worked at Muslim Civic Education Trust (M-CET) in Mombasa as a Policy Officer for 2 and a half years, where I was involved in training, outreach, advocacy, and capacity building in areas of mediation, conflict management, and conflict resolution within the community.

Moreover, prior to working at M-CET, I worked virtually (due to the peak of the Corona Virus Pandemic) for African Union- Citizens and Diaspora Organization Directorate (AU-CIDO) for 6 months. I majorly attended webinars and wrote reports on what was discussed in the webinars. Evenhandedly, I submitted a report that addressed the relationship between human rights and migration. The title of my submission was “A Human Rights Perspective on the Situation of Migrants to Malta and the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Furthermore, I worked for the African Union- Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) for 3 years in the Protocol Unit, the Directorate Department as an Acting Personal Assistant to the Director when called upon where I was actively involved in executing protocol and Administrative duties, and as a Communication Consultant. In that regard, having had exposure to people with diverse cultural backgrounds, I have acquired valuable inter-personal skills, enriching professional experience, dynamic leadership skills, bond-enhancing shared values, ability to work effectively under pressure, flexibility and adaptability where I willingly extended service beyond working hours, and on weekends when necessary.

Finally, I worked at M. K. Mazrui and Associates, an audit firm in Nairobi, as an Administrative Assistant for 2 years.

I obtained a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations at the United States International University- Africa (USIU-A). While I have a comprehensive International Relations background, I concentrated in aspects of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs which promotes understanding and cooperation between individuals, organizations, as well as foreign bodies, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, as well as Human Rights- a subject I am zealous about.