It is our great pleasure to introduce our new IntLawGrrls contributor Marie Forestier. Marie is a researcher and an independent journalist with a developed expertise in conflict-related sexual violence and violence affecting civilians in conflicts. She has extensive experience working in the Middle East and in conflict and post-conflict transition with NGO, academia and as an investigative journalist. She has worked in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Mali, as well as on the Syrian crisis.

In 2015, Marie directed a documentary and investigated sexual crimes committed in Timbuktu, Mali in 2012-2013.  Recently, as a Humanitarian Affairs Officer with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Iraq, she documented protection issues, violations of human rights and access to humanitarian aid. Prior to working in Iraq, Marie was a visiting fellow at the Center for Women Peace and Security of the London School of Economics. She wrote a working paper on sexual violence committed against Syrian women by the pro-regime forces based on in-depth field research. Between 2010 and 2016, Marie was a correspondent in Turkey and in Afghanistan.

Heartfelt welcome!