Neshan Gunasekera - Earth Trusteeship, ecocide and climate action

Neshan’s professional experience includes engagements with Government, non-government, bilateral and multilateral sectors and was a former member of the international civil service. Neshan Gunasekera has a background in international law, human rights, international relations, programme and project management and has worked to promote environmental considerations within the humanitarian-peace-development nexus. He has served as visiting faculty and examiner at several tertiary educational institutions, teaching public international law, human rights law, and humanitarian law. He holds a master’s in international Relations with a focus on Sustainable Development and has completed specialized trainings in various areas including on peacebuilding, conflict transformation and environmental governance. He has supported several clinical legal education initiatives, including moot courts.

In 2020, he was recognized for his continuous work over decades for Justice, Peace, and Sustainable Development, especially in South Asia and Sri Lanka, through his engagements with various global, regional and national institutions by being awarded the H.E. Judge C.G. Weeramantry International Justice Award.

His interests are in furthering principles of international law and environmental law, including specifically the principles of intergenerational equity and Earth trusteeship through educational initiatives to safeguard the integrity of our Earth system. Neshan is married to Bridgette and they have a son, Aryesh Kael.