In 1992, 9-year old Sanja Popovic and her family arrived in Canada having fled the increasingly hostile situation in the former Yugoslavia. Thirteen years later, as a first year law student at Windsor, Sanja received a Social Justice Fellowship that allowed her past to catch up with her present.
Sanja’s undergraduate studies were in part inspired by her interest in relations between states and the laws that govern them. As she closely followed the violent demise of the former Yugoslavia and the resulting human rights violations, the idea that laws of war were established to protect those most vulnerable was intrinsically captivating.
It was fitting that her internship took place at the Office of the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at the United Nations in The Hague, Netherlands. She was assigned to work with Nena Tromp as a member of the Leadership Research Team for the Tribunal’s Prosecutor just as Slobodan Milosevic was presenting his case. Tasked with reviewing and analyzing defense documents, including witness testimony and police files for Milosevic’s trial, her research was often emotional and incredibly interesting.
“The Social Justice Fellowship was invaluable to my personal growth because it gave me the opportunity to experience what international legal work entailed very early in my professional education.” Sanja believes internships are essential for young lawyers who wish to pursue careers in international law and human rights, as there is no structured career path for those interested in the field. “The SJF program at Windsor provides an invaluable opportunity for law students to obtain some initial experience in a competitive sought-after market.”
Sanja’s experience allowed her to continue to pursue her interests in the field of international law. Following her internship, she summered, articled and became an associate at Gowlings. She took a leave of absence to complete her Master of Laws at New York University School of Law. Following a brief return to Canada, she left first for the Netherlands and later to work for the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. is currently working in The Hague and exploring potential opportunities in the international human rights sector. Her research continues to focus on allegations of human rights abuses and conflict analysis.