About Christina

Christina Velentza is a refugee law professional, policy advisor and an attorney at law with the Athens Bar Association. She is a Researcher on international migration, refugees and human rights.

Christina is an Adjunct Lecturer in Kadir Has University and Ozyeğin University, Istanbul Turkey. Previously, she was a Visiting Research Fellow in MiReKoç, Koç University, Istanbul.  Christina was an Academy Stavros Niarchos Foundation fellow with the International Law and Europe Program, Chatham House, London (2015-16). She has previously worked for the Greek Asylum Service (Ministry of Interior) in partnership with UNHCR on assessment of claims for international protection. She worked for years for different international organizations and European institutions as a legal/policy advisor including the European Parliament, EEAS (West Africa, The Gambia), Legal Service in the General Secretariat of the EU Council and NGOs in the field of human rights in different countries. She has conducted field work on refugees, minorities and gender-based violence and worked in different research projects (ELIAMEP, Oxford Refugee Studies Center, Intersos). Her research interests are International and European criminal law, rule of law, migration, internal displacement, human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, cooperation. Christina is a PhD candidate in international refugee law and human rights (Democritus University of Thrace, Greek State Foundation Scholar), holds her MA in European Studies (Law) from the University of Strasbourg and her BA in Law from the Democritus University of Greece. She is a Research Affiliate with the Refugee Law Initiative, University of London and a Chatham House Member. She lived and worked in different countries (France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Jordan, The Gambia). She was born and raised in Athens, Greece (12/01/1985) and is a graduate of 30^thHigh School, Athens.