Ms. Laura-Jane Watkins LL.M

Laura-Jane Watkins is a South African attorney with expertise in criminal justice, international criminal law, transnational organized crime, security, and human rights. She holds two LL.M degrees from leading international institutions, earning two prestigous scholarships the Chevening Commonwealth Scholarship and the DAAD German Academic Exchange Scholarship. Reading for an LL.M in International Law: Crime, Justice & Human Rights from the University of Birmingham as a Chevening Scholar (2021–2022) and another LL.M in International Criminal Law, Transitional Justice, and Transnational Crime from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in collaboration with the University of the Western Cape (2017–2018). Focusing on areas such as international criminal law, transitional justice, and anti-money laundering and anti-corruption, under the mentorship of renowned academics including Professors Gerhard Werle.

Laura-Jane’s professional experience spans multiple sectors. She currently serves on the Executive Committee for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) Western Cape Branch and leads research and advocacy as the Africa Division Research Coordinator for SecurityWomen, a UN ECOSOC-recognized Women, Peace, and Security organization.

In 2023, Laura-Jane was contracted by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) as a legal researcher and consultant, where she led the crime and security section of the National Report on the July 2021 Unrest. Her previous roles include serving as Associate Legal Counsel in the energy sector.

In 2015, Laura-Jane founded a global gender advocacy campaign which was launched at the UN Secretariate (New York) during an international youth summit on the global SDGs, the Millennium Campus Network Conference (MCN 15).

She is currently advancing her expertise in international crisis management, diplomacy, disinformation, digital forensics, and OSINT techniques through an International Crisis Management Course at the University of Witwatersrand, in collaboration with the Foreign Policy Research Institute; and the 360 Digital Sherlocks Program with the Digital Forensics Lab.

With a career rooted in law, research, and advocacy, Laura-Jane remains dedicated to advancing justice, security, and human rights across Africa and globally.