Melisa Kurter has built a robust legal foundation, beginning with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Marmara University in Turkey. She further honed her expertise in international criminal law, earning a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Transnational Crime and Justice through a collaborative program with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in Italy and the United Nations-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) in Costa Rica.
Her professional experience includes an internship at the Office of the Prosecutor at the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) in The Hague, the successor to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). During this time, she contributed to war crimes investigations and litigation analysis. Additionally, she broadened her understanding of international governance and human rights while conducting policy analysis as a research intern with the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), focusing on the inclusion of vulnerable groups.
Earlier in her career, Melisa gained specialized experience in criminal litigation, as well as maritime and environmental crimes, working with prestigious law firms in Istanbul.
