Student Highlight

I recently graduated with anMA in Human Rights Studies at Columbia University. I officially finished my degree on February 12, 2025, and walked in the graduation ceremony in May 2025.

My parents flew all the way from Brazil to be there, and my host sister Shandra also came to New York. She has been a part of my story since my high school exchange in Saskatoon, Canada. It was such a special, full-circle moment that I’ll never forget.

My research focused on the alarming rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the Brazilian Amazon. I used an ecofeminist lens to examine the potential causes of this crisis, with a specific focus on Marajó Island. I built a timeline of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, connecting these events to broader patterns of historical neglect and systemic violence.

There was a phrase that stuck with me the whole time: “A Amazônia é feminina” (the Amazon is female).. And if it is female, then it makes sense that she’s being exploited and is also one of the epicenters of GBV in Brazil.

Originally, I wanted to write about GBV in every Brazilian state, mapping out cases and proposing local strategies, but it was too broad. I always carried a world map with me (I’ve had it since living in Budapest), and I used to look at Brazil and think about how each region faces different challenges. Eventually, I narrowed my focus to the area with the highest rates of GBV: the Brazilian Legal Amazon.

The decision to write a thesis was one of the reasons I chose this Master’s program. I wanted to write something meaningful, attesting to how our present moment is alarming and dangerous for women and girls,  grounded in evidence-based research, something that could help us understand our reality, identify the gaps, and propose ways to support survivors. I also wanted the work to be accessible to the international community, helping it to understand the Brazilian context better.

Even though I could have done this from Brazil, I knew I’d get more ideas and access to innovation in social justice while studying abroad, based on my international experiences. I also wanted to create something other Brazilians could build on.

When it comes to Marajó Island, most English publications are about its ecosystem and biodiversity. Academic work on GBV is mostly in Portuguese. I wanted to help build a bridge between the two, at least to start. I finalized my thesis while I was in Chile, and even though I was dealing with health issues at the time, I pushed through. The thesis limit was 13,000 words; I wrote 17,000. I just had so much to say. It wasn’t a PhD, but it was a solid foundation. This topic deserves attention, and there’s so much more to unpack.

In the end, I achieved what I hoped for: my Master’s gave me tangible tools for social change. Alongside the thesis, I also produced an anthropological report for the Julian Collinao Community in Chile, supporting their fight for land rights. It showed how much land they’ve lost, how that affects the environment, their ancestral connection, and especially the women.

Chile touched my soul in a way I didn’t expect. The Julian Collinao Community welcomed me like family. Their connection with spirituality helped  me reconnect with my own spiritual beliefs, which are very similar. It reminded me of the stories my grandmother used to tell.

Sometimes in New York, I felt unconfident about my English or Spanish, and that made me quiet in situations where I would usually speak up (even though I’m very talkative!). But in Chile, I felt seen and celebrated just as I am. The community was patient and supportive. They trusted my work in a way that made me trust myself more. 

My research in Chile focused on understanding the Julian Collinao Community’s deep relationship with their ancestral land. I used historical maps of the village to calculate, together with Prof. Francisca and Nathalia, how much territory the community originally had and how much of it they lost over time. I interviewed families who have witnessed firsthand the transformations in their land, families who shared their stories, their pain and joys, and how the changing landscape has impacted them.

The connection they have with the land is profound. They hold knowledge about the ecosystem and their territory that outsiders often overlook. They know where sacred sites are located, places with cemeteries or areas used for ceremonies. They showed me how the organization of nature itself, like the placement of certain trees next to stones or other natural features, signals that a location is sacred. They shared with me the use of medicinal plants and how the territory holds healing knowledge passed through generations.

This is why they are the true guardians of their land. Any construction or outside project that may impact their environment must involve them. Climate change and pollution don’t just harm the physical land; they threaten their sense of identity, which is intricately tied to the territory. One of the most beautiful aspects of the research was learning about Indigenous female leadership in the community. It is collaborative by nature, deeply rooted in care, and is, by itself, a sustainable way of leading.

Villarrica was magical. The volcano was outside my window, the town was peaceful, and the people were incredibly welcoming. I worked at the Centro de Desarrollo Local, Educación e Interculturalidad (CEDEL)alongside professors and researchers who treated me like a full professional. I interviewed families in their homes; they cooked for me and opened their hearts. 

Ever since I joined Columbia, I’ve wanted to find a way to connect with the Columbia Global Centers. Getting into Columbia was hard, especially financially, so I’ve felt this constant push to make the most of every opportunity. When I came across this grant, it felt like the perfect fit. Unlike other grants, this one was immersive, three months, fully funded, with the opportunity to collaborate with a professor and, once again, bring something back to the community.

While researching for the application, I came across Professor Francisca De La Maza and her work with Indigenous communities and sustainability, which closely connects to my own thesis. From that moment, I knew: if I wasn’t going to work with her, I didn’t want it. She was the reason this grant made sense to me.

I brought the idea to one of the professors I admire most and feel safe talking to, Professor Marcelo Medeiros Coelho, and he agreed to write a recommendation letter for me. That was just one of the many times he’s supported and believed in me. My current role at FOS Feminista also happened thanks to one of his recommendations.

Still, I had no idea how much this grant experience would end up transforming me.

Presenting at the “Territory, Ancestry, and Female Leadership” panel was definitely one of the highlights of my Master’s. I felt a big responsibility to represent the Julian Collinao Community and our research respectfully and truthfully, so I stayed in constant communication with them while building the presentation. I double-checked which data and pictures were appropriate to share—some locations have spiritual significance, and that needed to be honored.

The moment itself was incredibly emotional. Members of the community watched it, my mom and one of my best friends from Brazil joined, and I just felt really proud. Proud of the work, proud of the connection, and proud to share the voices of women whose stories deserve the world’s attention.

In the webinar (which is still available to watch here), I also shared that the house of Ruth Garrido, one of the community leaders, had recently been burned down. That house was a safe space for me, it’s where I was cared for when I got sick, where we had deep conversations, where I listened to the birds in the morning. Seeing it destroyed broke my heart. If you want to support their efforts to rebuild, please contact ishr@columbia.edu for more information.

I would love to present the research again, ideally alongside Professor Francisca, Nathalia, and members of the community. A follow-up conversation one year later to discuss what has changed (or hasn’t) in the territory would be incredibly valuable.

I would highly recommend HRTSGU4965 - Gender-Based Violence & Human Rights with Professor Julie Rajan, who was also the best thesis advisor I could have ever asked for! I absolutely love the way Professor Rajan teaches. She frames everything through the lens of the strategies and historical roots that sustain patriarchy, and explores how different forms of violence against women and girls around the world are connected—how they are, in some way, “similar,” all rooted in cultures of female inferiority. This perspective was incredibly powerful and gave me so many insights.

At the end of that first semester, I reached out to Professor Rajan and asked, “I know it’s still far from now, but would you consider being my thesis advisor?” I’ll never forget when she replied, “I would be honored to.” Those words made me smile for days—I felt so blessed and honestly unstoppable for a little while after that.

Another class I’d recommend is Equality, Identity and Rights with Professor Daniela Ikawa. In this class, I learned about intersectionality and analyzed human rights cases from around the world. What stood out most was how Professor Ikawa empowers students! She makes everyone feel valued and capable of contributing meaningfully. One of the biggest breakthroughs in my thesis happened during her office hours. I was struggling with my research question and hypothesis, and she patiently pushed me to get clearer. She’d say things like, “Almost, you’re close, but not quite clear yet,” until I finally figured it out. When she said, “That’s it, you got it,” it was such an incredible moment that showed me how knowledge is built together, with guidance and mentorship. I learned that part of the process is not having all the answers at first.

Lastly, Gender, Conflict, and Peacebuilding with Professor Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini was also a transformative course. It was in this class that I learned how to write a country report and policy recommendations on the status of women. We also explored concepts of restorative justice. Professor Sanam is truly inspirational! She’s the Founder and Executive Director of the International Civil Society Action Network and a consultant to the UN on women and conflict. Her real-world experience brought the subject matter to life in such a meaningful way.

Being the first recipient of the Chile Field Research Award definitely stands out as one of my favorite moments. Beyond that, I’ve cherished the experience of presenting in seminars, engaging in debates with my cohort, and building meaningful connections through it all. There was such a strong sense of community! People supporting each other in WhatsApp groups, reminding each other of deadlines, and cheering one another on.

The amazing events and get-togethers also made the experience unforgettable. One of the most inspiring moments was meeting Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, thanks to Columbia. She was the first woman to hold the presidency in Chile, and hearing her speak in person was both unforgettable and deeply motivating.

I’ll also never forget our very first week, when everything was new, and we were getting to know the program and being welcomed by the incredible faculty for the first time.

To future MA candidates: make sure to enjoy every moment, the good, the bad, the midterms, the happy hours, the internships, the essays, the meetings, the events. Take it all in. It goes by so fast!

I was born and raised in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Curitiba is the capital of the state of Paraná and is internationally known for its sustainable initiatives, especially in public transportation. It’s also where I completed my undergraduate studies in Psychology at Universidade Federal do Paraná, right at the heart of Praça Santos Andrade.

Besides Curitiba, I’ve lived in Saskatoon, Budapest, Brussels, Cusco and New York. 

Earlier this year, I opened a time capsule written by my 15-year-old self. I was struck by how little I expected from the future, but I had already written that I wanted to help change the world. I think I'm on the right path, and teenage Vanessa would be proud.

When I was 14, I had my first experience supporting children in vulnerable situations who opened up about violence they were witnessing and experiencing. But it was at 18, after living in Canada, that I decided to create my project, Pra Salvar Seu Coração, focused on supporting survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in Brazil. The project was inspired by a case of sexual violence against an exchange student in Rio de Janeiro. Advocacy became my driving force then, and it still is.

In the next 10 years, I hope my project continues and even expands, perhaps becoming a program applied across Federal Universities in Brazil, empowering future psychologists and students from different areas to respond to and prevent GBV. When I was in university, we weren’t prepared at all to deal with these issues. My dream is for this project to be a community-serving initiative, adapted to the realities of different regions, starting with my own: Universidade Federal do Paraná.

I also hope to have completed my PhD, published research and essays on rape culture and empathy-driven approaches to justice, and, hopefully, authored a book. I want to continue working with international organizations. The United Nations has always been a dream; we’ve already crossed paths through internship offers, and I hope to join them officially soon, supporting efforts related to PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, peace operations, and field missions.

I’d also love to work as a consultant with the IDB, OAS, or even the ICC. But wherever I am, I hope I’m still doing the one thing I know I was meant to do: support women and girls, and help build a more equal world free from sexual violence. Advocacy is the love of my life.

Definitely Butler Library! it always felt like it brought me luck, especially during application season or while writing assignments. One of my favorite places was the mezzanine on the 3rd floor, particularly table 15 (when it was available!). I liked to sit there when I had a lot of reading to do; it’s quiet, cozy, and there's no outlet nearby, so it really helped me focus without distractions.

Actually, I recently started a small Women’s Library on the 3rd floor of International House. The first book I placed there was Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. It felt like the perfect start. I love how Rupi divides her poems and writes with such emotional honesty. Her words helped me so much, and I hoped they might do the same for someone else.

The idea behind the Women’s Library is to build a collection of books by women, for women (and everyone else!), to inspire future I-House residents. Anyone can donate a book and write a note on the inside cover about why it mattered to them. As people come and go, the library becomes a way to leave something of yourself behind.

So far, we have 11 books collected, and I’ve donated four of them, each one close to my heart and highly recommended:

Letting go of these books was hard, but I hope they inspire others as they did me. As a tribute to this initiative, and with the help of my friend Olivia from the MA in Public Health, I even took graduation pictures with my favorite books!

*A special note on The Rape of Nanking: through this book, I learned about Minnie Vautrin, an American missionary and Columbia alumna who sheltered nearly 10,000 women and girls during the Nanking Massacre. She stood at the gates of her school, personally turning away soldiers to keep her students safe, a true heroine whose legacy deserves far more recognition than it receives.

If anyone reading this would like to contribute to the Women’s Library, please feel free to reach out to me!

Yes! If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be: seek community. Columbia is full of opportunities and amazing people, but it can also be overwhelming. Even with the crowds, it’s easy to feel alone at times. 

One of the best choices I made was to live at International House, just five minutes from campus. The staff is wonderful, and every month there are meaningful events and celebrations that truly reflect the spirit of international cooperation. It’s where I met most of my closest friends, connected with ISHR Advocates (a big hug to Gustavo!), the Obama Fellows (a big hug to Enrica!), and received scholarships that made my stay in New York possible. Columbia has changed my life, but it was the community that made it feel like home.