An Interview with Philippa Greer: A Career in International Law

Speaking in her personal capacity, Philippa Greer is Head of the Field Legal Office, Gaza, at UNRWA. She joined the United Nations in 2015 and has worked across a range of UN settings, including Jerusalem and Gaza, where she was stationed in 2020 and 2022 respectively, before the current emergency.

In November 2023, Philippa returned to Gaza from Kabul in her current role, where she has witnessed profound shifts in the international and humanitarian landscape.

Prior to her work in the Middle East and Afghanistan, Philippa served with the United Nations in Cambodia, Tanzania, New York and The Hague. Such work focused primarily on international criminal accountability mechanisms, including the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals- the successor institution to the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia- as well as the UN Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials.

In this interview-style conversation, Philippa will reflect on her journey as an international lawyer, share insights into the challenges and rewards of building a career in international law with significant field experience, and answer questions about the realities of working in complex field environments and humanitarian settings.