Fletcher’s Master of Laws in International Law degree helped Kitahara pivot to policy role
As a high schooler in Japan, Haruna Kitahara, F25, found that her history classes always sparked her curiosity. She was particularly interested in how societies create the systems that organize public life, and as she grappled with questions of political philosophy, she began to see law as a crucial force shaping our everyday experience.
“Law structures people's lives,” Kitahara said. “Law also influences how we think about the world.”
After studying law at the University of Tokyo, Kitahara worked for the Japanese government on policy issues such as international labor standards and pharmaceutical regulations. Over time, however, Kitahara came to feel that she needed a more international perspective to effect change as an advocate for human rights. This realization led Kitaraha to join the Master of Laws in International Law (LLM) program at Fletcher in 2024.
An Interdisciplinary Legal Perspective
At Fletcher, Kitahara was amazed by the diversity of her peers’ backgrounds. She was particularly drawn to the school because of its international cohort, which she saw as an advantage in pursuing her goals.
“I think in the Japanese government, many people use systems and ways of thinking that are very natural for Japanese people,” she said, “but it's not the international standard.”
“I felt that I needed to learn more about international standards,” she added. “Japan has a high level of protection for human rights compared to other countries, but it’s not enough. I saw that I needed to learn from international legal standards.”
Through her law classes, she collaborated with and learned from classmates who brought expertise from their own careers and studies in policy, economics, technology, and history. She credits this intellectual diversity with expanding her framework for thinking about international law.
One of her favorite courses was Current Issues in Human Rights, taught by Professor John Cerone. She appreciated Cerone’s ability to approach issues not just from a high-level theoretical perspective but also from a practical perspective, given his extensive experience as an international lawyer.
Another key experience for Kitahara was the International Law Practicum with Professor Christine Bustany. In this course, Kitahara worked with a group of four other students to analyze the situation of children in Gaza through the lens of international human rights law.
“When we were analyzing the issues in Gaza, an international law perspective was essential, but the problems are very complex,” Kitahara said. “Students with a background in history helped me understand the issues on a deeper level.”
Connections with the International Legal Community
During her time at Fletcher, Kitahara developed a deeper sense of engagement with the international legal community.
She attended International Law Weekend in New York and the annual meeting of the American Society of International Law in Washington, D.C. At these events, Kitahara learned about the latest developments in international law and made valuable connections, including with students from other universities and professionals working in an international capacity in the United States.
“It was a very good experience,” Kitahara said, “and I really appreciate that Fletcher gave me such an opportunity.”
Bringing An International Perspective Back to Japan
Today, Kitahara is in charge of the Japanese government's child abuse prevention policy. In this role, she is focused on drafting and amending subordinate laws to prevent child abuse.
Kitahara works not only with colleagues in her department but also with officers in other ministries and local governments. Kitahara credited her interdisciplinary experience at Fletcher with allowing her to collaborate more effectively with these groups and better understand their unique perspectives.
“Yes, it’s a human rights problem,” Kitahara said, “but there are other factors like poverty and parents’ mental health. This type of problem cannot be solved only by the law, so when thinking about such complex issues, interdisciplinary experience is very, very helpful.”
Kitahara’s work impacts not only Japanese children but also children from other countries living in Japan. Kitahara said that her time at Fletcher has helped her to think about issues through the lens of other cultures and religious backgrounds.
Since her university days, Kitahara dreamed of working in the field of human rights law. Through her work with the Japanese government, she actively shapes the future of the laws she once studied. For Kitahara, the motivation to keep doing this vital work is simple: “Advocating for human rights motivates me to go to work every day.”
Read more about Fletcher’s Master of Laws in International Law (LLM) degree program.