Bio

Jillian Rafferty (she/her) is the Clinical Supervising Attorney and Lecturer in Law of the International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic, and joined the team at the Mills Legal Clinic in June 2026.

Rafferty’s work has focused on the human rights of marginalized groups, discrimination, armed conflict and other humanitarian emergencies, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian disarmament. Her academic research interests include the co-application of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, the protection of economic, social, and cultural rights during armed conflict, and both gender- and disability-based violence and discrimination.

Most recently, Rafferty taught for two years in Duke Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic. Before joining Duke, Rafferty worked at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), where she managed and edited the International Review of the Red Cross. She has carried out wide-ranging human rights advocacy on behalf of numerous organizations, including the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munitions Coalition, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Human Rights Watch, Saferworld, the Center for Civilians in Conflict, and Control Arms, among others.

Rafferty received an MPP from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a JD from Harvard Law School, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Human Rights Journal. During law school, Rafferty’s clinical work included travel, research, writing, and other advocacy relating to weapons-linked gender-based violence, lethal autonomous weapons, international counter-terrorism law, and the regulation of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. She also holds a BA in International Relations, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.

Academic Appointments

  • Lecturer, Stanford Law School

Professional Education

  • BA, University of Pennsylvania, International Relations (2013)
  • MPP, Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government (2020)
  • JD, Harvard Law School (2020)

Additional Info

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

Rafferty’s work has focused on the human rights of marginalized groups, discrimination, armed conflict and other humanitarian emergencies, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian disarmament. Her academic research interests include the co-application of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, the protection of economic, social, and cultural rights during armed conflict, and both gender- and disability-based violence and discrimination.

All Publications

  • Arms exports, terror and crime: Reducing risk under the Arms Trade Treaty Rafferty, J. M., Kirkham, E., Isbister, R. Saferworld. London, UK. 2021
  • A Commitment to Civilians: Precedent for a Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas Rafferty, J. M., Docherty, B., Forsee, A., White, P., Calderwood, C. Human Rights Watch. 2019
  • Interpreting the Arms Trade Treaty: International Human Rights Law and Gender-Based Violence in Article 7 Risk Assessments Rafferty, J. M., Crowe, A., Baranouski, E. Harvard International Human Rights Clinic. 2019
  • How Think Tanks Shape Social Development Policies HOW THINK TANKS SHAPE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICIES edited by McGann, J. G., Viden, A., Rafferty, J. 2014: 1-270

    View details for Web of Science ID 000339123800024

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0138-8363