Joyce De Coninck

Joyce De Coninck is a PhD candidate at Ghent University and a research assistant for FreSsco (Free movement of workers and Social security coordination), which is a network of independent experts in the fields of free movement of workers and social security coordination in the European Union, mandated by the European Commission with the task of researching and preparing reports concerning free movement and social security coordination. 

Before joining the Human Rights Centre, Joyce completed a Masters of Law at Ghent University and subsequently an LLM in International and European Law at the Institute for European Studies (VUB). Throughout her studies Joyce  focused primarily on human rights law and public international law, as demonstrated by her Master Thesis written for the University of Ghent (Roma Rights: A Comparative Analysis Between Belgium and Romania) as well as her Master Thesis written for the LLM in International and European Law (Analysing the Human Rights Architectural Framework: Accountability for Human Rights Violations by Frontex in View of Irregular Migration to the European Union).  

Prior to commencing her academic career as a researcher at Ghent University, she was a junior associate at Pappas and Associates – a European law firm in Brussels. Her tasks consisted primarily of writing applications and preparing cases for the Court of Justice of the European Union.  

Her PhD research focuses on the legal responsibility of the European Union as an international organisation and a global actor for human rights violations within the field of asylum and migration.  

• Ph.D. Researcher at the Department of Criminology, Criminal law and Social Law (2014 – ongoing)
• FreSsco (Free Movement of Workers and Social Security Coordination) Scientific Researcher (2014 – ongoing)
• Coach of the EMLC Moot Court (2017 – ongoing)
• Junior Associate Pappas and Associates (2013 – 2014)
• Assistant Coach JESSUP Moot Court UGent Team (2013 – 2015)
• Law Tutor for university law students at Cum Laude in Ghent, Belgium

• PhD in Law Candidate, Ghent University. Research topic: Parallel protection against discrimination concerned free movement rights in contemporary Europe – a tale of conflicting regimes? (2013 – ongoing)
•  LLM International and European Law (Summa Cum Laude) – Institute for European Studies (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) 2015
• Master of Laws (Magna Cum Laude) – Ghent University 2013
• Bachelor of Laws – Ghent University 2010

• Assistant Coach JESSUP Moot Court UGent (2013 – 2015)

• ‘Award for the Best Master Thesis’ during the LLM in International and European Law, awarded by the Institute for European Studies, VUB, Belgium.
• ‘Award for the Best Legal Pleader’ during the Masters of Law, awarded by the Ghent Bar Association, at Ghent University, Belgium.
• ‘Award for 7^th Best Legal Pleader Internationally’ during the JESSUP White and Case Moot Court Competition in Washington DC 2013.

• Volunteer at the Flemish Youth Council
• Founder of the Romania Club at the American School of Paris

• European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the European Court of Human Rights
• Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union
• EU Law (free movement law and social security coordination)
• Anti-discrimination Law
• Migration Law
• Public International Law