2009 Castan Centre Intern

Tania Marcello

Human Rights First, New York City

Since she was young, Tania Marcello has regularly spent time in the Philippines and witnessed the effects of endemic poverty and corruption. These experiences fostered her commitment to human rights and a desire to pursue a more just and tolerant world.

On top of her studies, Tania currently volunteers at a number of organisations in Melbourne.  She interacts with asylum seekers through her volunteer work with the legal and employment programs at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre; she engages with broader issues in her current work at the Public Interest Law Clearing House; and provides assistance to clients at Casey-Cardinia Community Legal Service.

Tania recently participated in this year’s Castan Centre Charter of Rights Mooting Competition, which made her optimistic about the potential impact of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.  In 2007, as a part of the student group Researchers and Advocates for Human Rights, she researched and wrote the international law section of a position paper on the legality of the immigration detention of children.  

In addition to her work in the local community, Tania has volunteered in the Philippines at an orphanage for disabled children and with a medial mission conducted by American doctors and surgeons in Angono-Rizal. Tania also recently spent time in India where she assisted at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying, and volunteered with the SMILE organisation, which runs schools for underprivileged children and provides material support to homeless children living in a train station in central Kolkata.

Tania is thrilled to be interning at Human Rights First and is particularly eager to learn more about refugee policy and the treatment of asylum seekers. She is excited to work with and learn from the dedicated people at Human Rights First, especially in the aftermath of such an intense presidential election.

Tania is an Arts/Law student who confesses to having been at university too long. During her time at Monash, Tania has focused on human rights, international law and politics with a particular interest in refugees.