Emily Rakhorst was born in the Netherlands and, growing up in a social and cultural environment where she could breathe a sense of fairness daily, whilst being encouraged not to fear obstacles or barriers, have helped her natural inclination towards speaking up for the rights of others.

“I have always felt an inner motivation to fight for justice and against inequality, lending my voice to those who are not allowed having one. I have always been firmly convinced that you cannot have justice without knowing that all others around you are enjoying their rights and are being treated equally. The Dutch culture in which I was raised certainly provided me with a fertile cultural soil in this regard. Growing up, I never felt I was not given the same opportunities than boys or men around me” Emily tells us. “However, I want to say that, during the course of my career, I have met many women who, despite coming from different backgrounds that still, regrettably, are connotated by gender-stereotypes and inequality, were fearlessly fighting for social justice.”

As an international legal advisor, specialised in criminal justice in conflict and post-conflict settings, Emily Rakhorst’s professional journey spans from roles with the European Union (EU) civilian crisis management missions, to the United Nations (UN), including international courts. Today, she is the Deputy Head of Mission of the largest civilian Mission deployed under the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP): the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX).

“Ultimately, justice means making right what is wrong. And, again, justice is a matter of equality and respecting everyone’s human rights,” Emily explains, pointing out how maintaining a steady focus on the human element while delivering criminal justice is essential. “We cannot forget that both victims and defendants have their rights, and that everyone has specific individual needs. The diversity and equal representation within the multiple actors from the justice system, be they police, prosecutors, judges, or correctional officers, is one of the crucial tools to ensure that a balanced and diverse set of skills, mindsets and competences provided an adequate spectrum of institutional response.”

Working within civilian CSDP Missions such as EULEX Kosovo, EUMM Georgia or EUPOL COPPS in Palestine has given Emily the possibility to contribute to a systemic change, tackling different stages of the justice chain.

“When we talk about international and European human rights standards, we need to be aware that these are the bare minimum. The enjoyment of human rights without discrimination is the ultimate goal, and the sustainable and effective implementation of these rights requires an in- depth understanding of the real needs of victims, as well as the specific local context. European best practices provide practical examples of implementation of these standards, but there is no cookie-cutter solution when it comes to justice” she stresses.

This is particularly true for one of the initiatives Emily is presently engaged in: A joint EULEX-UNICEF Kosovo effort toward improving how Kosovo addresses sexual violence and abuse against children, in the field of justice and law enforcement, but also broader governmental, social and educational fields.

“When dealing with criminal justice for children, the relevance of an inclusive, and equal multi- institutional approach is more evident than ever. Children are victims of gender-based violations, and only a gender-sensitive response to suspected or proven cases of abuse can shape a child’s journey toward healing, justice, and recovery. We must create a sustainable safety net around children. I am extremely proud of the work EULEX is carrying on in this direction, and our unique mandate, tasking us with a robust and assertive monitoring of rule of law institutions in Kosovo, is an incredibly powerful tool to advocate for an equal representation of women and men within these institutions and real protection of the children.”

As a woman in a leadership position, Emily’s commitment to equality naturally applies also to the complex, multifaceted civilian CSDP Missions’ context.

“It is a matter of fact that the attitude towards the subject of women participation and gender equality has greatly improved, including within the CSDP, since I first started,” confirms Emily, “However, the current gender composition is still far from ideal; this is at least partly related to the fact that most personnel deployed to CSDP Missions are seconded by EU Members States. If in a country, the majority of police officers in operational roles are men, we cannot be surprised if most applicants to CSDP posts related to policing tasks will be men. However, challenges in recruitment of women to CSDP missions are more complex than that.”

“Luckily, today there is a shared understanding of the need to help Missions overcome any possible gender barriers, and a clear commitment to enabling more women to join CSDP Missions across the globe. And, as Deputy Head of Mission, it is my personal, daily pledge to ensure EULEX is steadily advancing in this direction,” Emily concludes.