Aditi Shetye is an international environmental lawyer and currently serves as Lead of Strategic Litigation at the World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ). She previously led the Legal Advocacy Taskforce and advised climate-vulnerable States' engagement before the International Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. She has also coordinated advocacy networks. Her expertise sits at the intersection of human rights, climate, and environmental law, with a particular emphasis on strategic litigation that addresses systemic climate injustices. Her work is grounded in a decolonial approach that centres the Global South and advances equitable and inclusive outcomes.

Aditi is also a Researcher in Public International Law and Environmental Law at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL). She began her legal career practising law in Mumbai. She holds an LL.M. in Global Environmental Law and Governance from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and a Master’s Diploma in India's Environmental Law and Policy from the National Law University, Delhi.

Email: aditi@wy4cj.org

Angélique Umutesi Muhavani is a dedicated lawyer and researcher from Kenya with a passion for environmental governance. Holding an LLB from Strathmore University, she has already made her mark through impactful work with the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness Kenya, the International Centre for Animal Rights and Ethics, the United Nations Environment Programme, and now World’s Youth for Climate Justice. When she's not advocating for climate justice, Angélique is likely delving into the latest trends in one health, animal welfare, and the world of effective altruism.

Email: angelique@wy4cj.org

Ashawnté Russell is a PhD student in Ecology and Biology at Utah State University, specializing in Climate Adaptation Science. Her research focuses on climate-mediated stress in Bahamian rock iguanas, integrating ecological research with conservation and policy.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of The Bahamas. As an environmental advocate, Ashawnté is committed to youth empowerment, biodiversity conservation, environmental justice, and strengthening climate resilience across Caribbean communities.

Over the past seven years, she has advanced the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through national, regional, and international initiatives in conservation, climate policy, and environmental justice. She has represented The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean at global platforms including COP27, COP28, the UNFCCC Youth4Climate Conferences, and the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum. 

Email: ashawnte@wy4cj.org

Henrieke holds an LLB in European and International Law as well as an LLM in Environmental Law. Her interest in the climate crisis has strongly influenced both her personal and academic life, working dedicatedly towards utilizing the skills and opportunities at her disposal to contribute to the mitigation and adaptation of climate change. She strongly believes in the power of the law to bring about solution-oriented action and to ensure climate justice as an integral part of the future on our planet. She has complemented her legal background with an MSc in Environmental Management to bridge the gap between law and science in decision-making and to ground collective climate action on planetary boundaries.

Email: henrieke@wy4cj.org

José serves as Strategic Advisor to World’s Youth for Climate Justice, focusing on the implementation of the ICJAO. He is a public international lawyer and climate justice advocate from Costa Rica. He wants to make sure the law protects you, and the environment where you live.

From 2022–2025, he led YWJC’s Latin American campaign. He also worked as Senior Legal Clerk of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for five years (2017–2022) and was invited to return as a Consulting Attorney (2023-2025).

José holds an LL.M. in Public International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He lives in Costa Rica.

Email: jose@wy4cj.org

Jule Schnakenberg is a member of the Core-Team of the World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ), and has an interest in using (international) law to further progress on climate justice and intergenerational equity.

Originally from Hamburg (Germany) she now live in The Hague and manages our finances, fundraising and donor relations. Jule is also studying for a Masters in International Human Rights Law at Oxford University.

Email: jule@wy4cj.org

Mariana Campos is a lawyer with experience in public international law, human rights and environmental law. She co-founded Escazú Ahora México to accelerate Mexico's ratification of the Escazú Agreement and its entry into force in the region. Mariana led WYCJ's participation in the oral hearings before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on its Advisory Opinion on Climate Emergency and represented the organisation at COP28 and COP29. She was a student of the 2025 Winter Course at the Hague Academy of International Law and has also participated in the United Nations Career for Climate Action Programme, among other specialised courses in environmental and human rights law.

Email: mariana@wy4cj.org

Nicole Ann Ponce is an environmental and human rights lawyer-advocate from the Philippines with a strong interest in the intersection of law, science, and policy. She holds degrees in Political Science and Law, has a background in research, and is admitted to the Philippine Bar. As Advocacy Lead of World’s Youth for Climate Justice, she oversees the advisory opinion implementation workstream, coordinating efforts to translate the legal obligations clarified by the ICJ, ITLOS, and IACtHR into ambitious national, regional, and international action. Her work includes leading international advocacy in multilateral negotiations, developing regional implementation plans, and lobbying governments to integrate these obligations into legislation and policy. In parallel, she works on the adoption of these advisory opinions within the UN system, including by Special Procedures and Human Rights Treaty Bodies. She also works as a research project contracts officer at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) Paris delegation and as a Fellow of the Asian Research Institute of Environmental Law (ARIEL).

Email: nicole@wy4cj.org

Prajwol is a lawyer based in Nepal. He is pursuing a Masters in Political Science at Tribhuvan University. He is also engaged as a Research Consultant (Nepal) for the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy affiliated to the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka on a research project on Crimes against Future Generations. He led a research initiative with South Asian researchers and published a research book titled "A Study of Climate Change Laws and Policies in South Asian Countries" in 2022. Prajwol is interested in the comparative study of environmental laws of South Asian countries, crimes against future generations, human rights, and youth activism. Prajwol believes WYCJ became a platform for him to implement the bookish knowledge of international law into practice by advocating for the Advisory Opinion of ICJ.

Email: prajwol@wy4cj.org

Quint is a student currently pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Engineering at Delft University of Technology. He thinks that the ICJ AO is a great milestone in climate justice and that it can lead to more progressive climate policies worldwide. He wants to contribute to WYCJ by improving the communication around the campaign, so that more people learn about and start supporting the campaign for a strong advisory opinion from the world's highest court, as well as climate justice advisory opinions at other international tribunals. In his work as Communications Lead, he is supported by many dedicated campaigners, including Doğa Işık (social media) and Roza de Jong (website & newsletter).

Email: quint@wy4cj.org

Originally from the French island of Mayotte, Samira Ben Ali is a passionate climate justice advocate dedicated to raising the voices of vulnerable communities. She has a strong academic background in European and International Environmental Law and Political Sciences. Samira believes that a robust international legal framework is essential to protect current and future generations. Through her work with the World’s Youth for Climate Justice as well as an European Climate Pact Ambassador, she advocates for policies that reflect the concerns and aspirations of young people committed to a sustainable and just future.

Email: samira@wy4cj.org

Theresa first joined WYCJ in 2023 as a volunteer for the Legal Advocacy Taskforce, functioned as the Legal Advocacy Deputy from April 2024 to May 2025, and has since become the Lead of Legal Research and Capacity-Building. As such, she is coordinating and developing legal education and capacity projects, teaching human rights and international climate law, directing and conducting legal research, and drafting other legal outputs; she is also coordinating the Global Legal Taskforce. 

Theresa is currently a PhD candidate at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, where her research is exploring the principle of intergenerational equity. She has a comparative and English law background, holds an LL.M. from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, and has been called to the Bar of England and Wales. She has particular experiences and expertise in the Inter-American system of human rights protection, is a member of the International Network on Climate Change, Energy and Human Rights (RICEDH), and a founding partner and legal director of NIKA. 

Email: theresa@wy4cj.org

Yasmin holds an MSc in International Politics from SOAS University of London, specializing in Climate Justice, International Accountability, and Security Politics. As Head of Connection at Young Women in Sustainable Development, she supports collaborative initiatives empowering youth and women in sustainability as lead of communications. Her lobbying experience in the Netherlands and EU has focused on coherent and just policy development. Her interest lies with working to foster holistic and inclusive decision-making through improving international cooperation and accountability frameworks.

Email: yasmin@wy4cj.org

Aoife Fleming is former UN Youth Representative on Sustainable Development for the Netherlands. She holds an LLM in financial law from Leiden University. Her interest lies with how legal solutions can help address the climate crisis, both through a climate finance and a rights-based perspective.

Email: aoife@wy4cj.org

Lianne Baars is a PhD candidate at Leiden University, researching the procedural aspects of climate change litigation in international human rights courts and bodies. She holds an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law from the University of Edinburgh, and an LLM in Public International Law from Leiden University. Her interest lies in protecting the right to access to justice and redress mechanisms for victims of climate change.

Email: lianne@wy4cj.org

Sumeyra Arslan is a legal advisor in the Supervisory Board at Fossielvrij NL. She is an expert in climate litigation, corporate accountability and human rights and climate change. She holds an LL.B. in Dutch law, an LL.M. in International and European Union Law from the Erasmus University Rotterdam and an LL.M. International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex. She is passionate about using the law innovatively as a tool to fight for climate justice.

Email: sumeyra@wy4cj.org