October 2006

Sandrine Desamours, JD ’02/LLM ’03 (Estate Planning) is currently a protection officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The UNHCR is the United Nation’s Refugee Agency representing and promoting the rights of refugees worldwide.  Sandrine represents the agency as a liaison and advocate with the highest levels of government officials, (other) United Nations officials, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and the diplomatic corps.

Sandrine also establishes and maintains close contact with representatives of domestic, regional and international non-government organizations and other actors throughout the Caribbean interested in human rights as it relates to refugees and migrants. Sandrine organizes workshops to train government officials, military officials, human rights lawyers, staff of non-governmental organizations and other such interlocutors/institutions about international humanitarian and refugee law and procedures.

Although Sandrine works throughout the Caribbean, as part of her position Sandrine travels frequently to Haiti to monitor, conduct research and analyze information on human rights developments and geopolitical affairs. “I articulate issues of concern in briefing memos, short reports and statements in a concise and accurate manner, at times on a daily basis during highly volatile periods, while in a remote location with little support and supervision.”  

Sandrine also monitors the reception and treatment of refugees throughout the Caribbean. “I intercede on behalf of persons of concern with appropriate government officials in cases of mistreatment or misunderstanding and advocate for the removal of asylum seekers from detention.” Recently many Caribbean states which traditionally never received refugees have seen an influx, while others have seen an increase in the number of persons seeking asylum. “Few are the states in the Caribbean with refugee law, procedures or even ad hoc procedures in place. Hence, all of these factors lead me to work with the governments of several nations in order to assist them to implement procedures where none existed.”

After graduating from Douglass College, Rutgers University, Sandrine worked for the National Coalition for Haitian Rights. In fact, it was the work Sandrine did with the NCHR which led her to seek a law education. “I wished to better represent immigrants and refugees, especially in the Haitian community. I worked for NCHR during the years of the “Contract with America”, as it was called by then representative Newt Gingrich, and the Californian Proposition 186, which sought to significantly change the rights of immigrants and their access to full citizenship.”

Due to her family’s history, Sandrine was committed to work for the voiceless. As an immigrant who was grateful for the opportunities the United States provided, Sandrine wished for other immigrants to be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. “My grandfather left Haiti in the early 1950’s for Mexico, and upon his return he was compelled to flee Haiti due to repressions by then president, Francois Duvalier. This led him to work for UNESCO in Africa. My parents also fled Haiti to live and work in Africa; where they spent the greater part of their adult lives. It was in the former Zaire that my siblings and I were raised, until we had to flee Zaire for the United States. Thus, coming from a family which fled two countries in order to find peace, stability and opportunity for advancement, Sandrine chose to represent vulnerable populations because she understood why people literally die on oceans separating the developing world from the developed world (as well as) the history and results of colonization, post-colonization, dictatorships and war which again force people to migrate.

While attending UM School of Law, Sandrine worked full time and took a full schedule in order to have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. Through the Miami Scholars Program, Sandrine was able to spend a semester working for the United Nations in Senegal. “In Senegal, I worked as a refugee protection officer.  Thus, I conducted interviews for asylum seekers, researched conditions on their countries of origin and I analyzed cases and recommended refugee status.”  Sandrine identified and submitted priority cases so that refugees could be resettled to a third country if they could not remain in Senegal. “As I was the only English speaking staff in this French speaking office, I also responded to inquiries from attorneys and human rights advocates, and was able to research national legislations of the five countries the office in Dakar was in charge of in order to assure compliance with international standards.”

At UM, Sandrine was on the International Moot Court Board, a member of the Honor Council, Bar and Gavel Honor Society, Caribbean Law Student Association, International Law Student Association and was director of the Student Legal Research program for two years. Sandrine was a recipient of a scholarship through the Miami Scholars Program and received a grant from the Association of American University Women Educational Foundation.

In her personal life, Sandrine enjoys spending time with daughter Ife-Sandrine, who at age six could read, write and speak French, Spanish and English. Ife also speaks Haitian Creole. “She adapts quickly to other cultures and is looking forward to my Mandarin classes just in case I am posted in China.”