I am Bob Mwewa, a Zambian prosecutor with expertise in gender-based violence (GBV) and counter-terrorism. Beyond my professional pursuits, my interests include football, mixed martial arts, computer games, weightlifting, cooking, and reading.

Prior to receiving my Ireland Fellows Programme award, I served as a Senior State Advocate at the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), where I held the position of Deputy Director for gender-based violence (GBV) prosecutions. In this role, I supervised and managed cases across all ten provinces of Zambia. In my practice, I have taken a keen interest in enforcing legislation against violence directed at women and girls, addressing harmful cultural practices, and combatting sexual abuse. In the course of my work, I co-authored the Handbook on Sexual Violence and the Guidelines on Child Witnesses. Furthermore, from 2017 to 2020, I concurrently served as a legal counsel for the Ministry of Home Affairs. In 2018, this input resulted in achieving a high legal compliance rating during the Financial Action Task Force Mutual Evaluation exercise.

My current course, a Master of Law in Criminal Justice in Human Rights at the University of Limerick, aligns seamlessly with my professional objectives, given its focus on areas that are of particular interest to me and of value to the fight against gender-based violence. Specifically, modules such as Criminal Justice Process and Criminology motivate me, as they provide insights into global criminal systems, while equipping me to better understand root causes of crimes. Recognising the distinct challenges associated with victims of gender-based violence, I believe studying Victimology is adding value to me which will in turn contribute to the support and advocacy for survivors in my home country, Zambia. Having spent 9 years prosecuting crimes, the course on Advanced Constitutional Law has instilled in me fresh insights on the application of, and interpretation of constitutional law in relation to the criminal justice process.

The Ireland Fellows Programme has significantly elevated my professional standing, both domestically and internationally. Receiving this prestigious and globally recognized scholarship has qualitatively enriched my life as the award itself is an honour. The fellowship has also allowed me experience student life at University of Limerick, a top international university, where I am able to expand the limits of my understanding of the law via high level discourse and library facilities. In addition to my academic commitments, I am also part of the Post Graduate Student Union as the Social Sciences Faculty Representative in my spare time and this volunteering has been extremely fulfilling.

The overall experience in Ireland has been quite positive. Both the university and the local community have facilitated a seamless adjustment. While the cold weather presents a notable contrast, I find it preferable to the heat, and have no major complaint in that regard, just put a coat on! It is difficult not having family and friends outside of my studies to watch soccer with or relax over a meal, so holidays and weekends can be a bit lonely.  A notable highlight of my stay has been experiencing the adept integration of technology into various facets of daily life. It is motivating and interesting to see how efficiently systems such as transportation, immigration, and retail services are easily fused with current technologies making things so much easier.

My primary aim at this time is to achieve the highest grade I can in my course, potentially pursue doctoral studies, and create lifelong connections for future professional interactions. The fellowship experience has been particularly enriching, with a highlight being the exceptional quality of classes and engaging learning interactions with the lecturers. Beyond academics, participation in non-academic events organised by ICOS and the university has been enjoyable, with memorable experiences such as visiting the EPIC museum and watching live matches of the Irish Football team. I have also taken the opportunity to work on my fitness and health utilising the school staff and facilities.

I absolutely encourage individuals from my country to participate in the Ireland Fellows Programme. The programme provides access to world-class education aligned with the challenges and aspirations of Zambia, particularly those related to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The application process is notably responsive and efficient, easing concerns for applicants and giving them the opportunity to refine their applications. Prospective candidates should possess a genuine passion in their area of work as this will help with the application and getting through the interview stage. The candidates must also thoroughly review their professional and academic life and highlight all of their personal and professional achievements. As the programme is a merit-based system where humility may not be advantageous, shine your light brightly when going for this opportunity.