Marie Curie Actions: Inspiring Researchers - Imdea

According to Dr Petrova, this convention was crucial not onlyfor developing international law, but for the people affected,for their communities and for the work of NGOs. The twoconventions banning cluster munitions and landmines, shesays, have ‘marked a paradigm shift in multilateral diplomacyand increased attention towards the promotion of humansecurity over national security’.Dr Petrova sees clear signs that such efforts are paying dividends.‘The international processes do indeed limit the effectsof the instruments of war on civilians’, she says, ‘and as aresult have captured the interest of the general public. One onlyhas to look at the landmine campaign supported by PrincessDiana that caught the attention of millions across the globe.There was also signifi cant media interest and public outcry inthe wake of the war between Israel and Hizbullah in the summerof 2006, when large amounts of cluster munitions were used.’A deep personal commitmentDuring her Marie Curie Fellowship, Dr Petrova was able to observeinternational diplomacy in action – notably by attending severalconferences where negotiations for the new treaty on clustermunitions took place. ‘Being there in person has allowed me togather fi rst-hand information about the dynamics of internationalnegotiations and law development and conduct numerous interviewswith representatives from state delegations and NGOs,’ she says.Just as importantly, the fellowship allowed her to study at theEuropean University Institute (EUI) and its Robert SchumanCentre for Advanced Studies in Florence, Italy. The Institutewas set up in 1972 by the six founding Member States of theEuropean Community to provide advanced training to PhDcandidates and to promote research to the highest level.While there, she ‘benefi ted from the rich intellectual life andacademic activities organised’. She also developed ties with theNGO community, and later even became involved in advocacy.‘This means that I was not only an external observer, but tosome degree I was also a participant in the process of banningcluster munitions.’Helen Dwight Reid Award winnerIn 2008, Dr Petrova received the Helen Dwight Reid Awardfor the best doctoral dissertation in the fi eld of international338