André Luis de Lima Maia is a legal adviser and international mediator. He attended the first intake of the Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Course in Human Rights at the Catholic University, an “intellectually stimulating” experience with an interdisciplinary and humanist approach, which enabled him to deepen his understanding of human rights. In this interview, he reflects on the importance of dialogue between different fields of knowledge, the role of mediation in conflict resolution, and collective responsibility in promoting human rights. “The more I study, the more I am convinced that rights and duties complement one another and find their raison d’être in human dignity.”

Are human rights everyone’s responsibility?

Yes, I am convinced that the protection of human rights is a collective responsibility. For a long time, the prevailing view was that the protection of human rights was almost exclusively the responsibility of states. Today, that responsibility is much broader. Businesses, universities, civil society organisations and citizens themselves are key players capable of influencing human rights, either positively or negatively.

Throughout my career, I have come to realise that human rights do not begin with international conventions, nor do they end with court rulings. They begin much earlier: in the upbringing we receive at home, in the integrity with which we practise our profession, in the way we treat those who think differently, and in the responsibility we take for our own choices.

Perhaps that is why I find it increasingly difficult to separate rights from duties. The more I study human rights, the more I am convinced that the two complement one another and find their raison d’être in human dignity.

“No single field of knowledge can, on its own, explain all the challenges we face as a society”

Do you consider interdisciplinarity to be essential for understanding and promoting human rights?

Without a doubt… Interdisciplinarity is an indispensable prerequisite for understanding the complexity of human rights. No single field of knowledge can, on its own, explain all the challenges we face as a society. Law provides the essential regulatory tools, but issues such as migration, climate change, artificial intelligence and the protection of vulnerable groups also require input from economics, sociology, political science, philosophy, psychology and management. An interdisciplinary approach teaches us to recognise the limits of our own knowledge and to value the contributions of others. This attitude requires intellectual humility and strengthens the legal professional’s ethical independence, making them more prudent and better prepared to tackle complex problems. In an increasingly interdependent world, I believe that the ability to engage in dialogue across different fields of knowledge is a vital skill for any professional working in the international arena and in the field of human rights.

“One of the things that struck me most was the programme’s focus on bridging the gap between academic reflection and practical reality.”

Was it this interdisciplinary approach that led you to the postgraduate programme, which brings together the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Education and Psychology, and the Cross-cutting Area of Social Economy?

In 2017, during an international training programme in Malta, where I attended English language courses and the course on the Law of International Organisations at the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), I had the opportunity to engage with various European academic institutions. It was also at this stage that I began to follow with particular interest the work of several lecturers at the Portuguese Catholic University, whose publications I have always regarded as key references in the field of human rights. So, when, in 2018, whilst living in Porto, the opportunity arose to enrol on the first intake of the postgraduate programme – a pioneering programme due to its interdisciplinary and humanistic approach – I felt it was the right step for the academic and professional path I wished to pursue.

How would you describe your academic experience at the Catholic University?

It was a demanding and intellectually stimulating academic experience, which enabled me to consolidate my knowledge and understand human rights from a truly interdisciplinary perspective. One of the aspects that made the greatest impression on me was the programme’s focus on bridging the gap between academic reflection and practical reality. Towards the end of the course, we were challenged to develop projects with practical applications, demonstrating that the promotion of human rights requires not only a sound theoretical foundation, but also the ability to collaborate and implement solutions. Another aspect I hold in high regard is the academic and personal relationships I built there, many of which continue to this day.

What motivated you to pursue a career in law?

From a very early age, injustices have always troubled me, whether those experienced by people in the most vulnerable situations – who often lack the necessary means to assert their rights – or by those who, despite the resources at their disposal, also face the frailties inherent in the human condition, such as the abuse of power, corruption, greed or a lack of ethics.

At the same time, I have always had a keen interest in reading, history, philosophy and different cultures, which sparked in me a constant curiosity about how societies organise themselves and seek to build fairer and more balanced models of coexistence. It was, therefore, quite naturally, that I chose to study law.

At what point did you realise you wanted to devote yourself to the international dimension of law?

I believe that this calling was present in my life long before I myself recognised it. I was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela; I spent part of my childhood in Guatemala; and I grew up in different regions of Brazil, many of which were characterised by proximity to the sea and international borders. Initially, these experiences were linked to my father’s professional activities, as he maintained strong ties with various countries in Latin America and Europe. Later on, exchange programmes, academic activities and, above all, the study of public and private international law, international organisations and regional human rights protection systems, which I studied during my undergraduate degree, gave greater substance to this calling. It was then that I realised I wanted to devote my professional life to this aspect of law, seeking to bring people, cultures, institutions and legal systems closer together.

International experience also shapes the way one views the law and the world…

Books teach us the law; experience on the ground teaches us to understand people. Every country I have visited has left a different mark on my way of seeing the world and practising law. Throughout this journey, I have matured not only as a lawyer and mediator, but, above all, as a person. This experience has taught me to approach global legal challenges with greater openness, balancing technical rigour with intercultural sensitivity. Today, I seek to make the most of the best that each context has to offer, believing that international cooperation is one of the most effective ways to promote peace, justice and socio-economic development amongst peoples and nations.

For those wishing to build an international career in this field, what skills do you consider essential, apart from legal knowledge?

Legal knowledge is essential, but it is far from sufficient. An international career requires intellectual curiosity, the ability to adapt, proficiency in foreign languages and a genuine openness to learning about other cultures. Just as important as technical skills are interpersonal skills: knowing how to listen, communicate clearly, engage in dialogue, negotiate and build relationships based on trust. After all, the practice of law is not built solely on rights, but also on a sense of service, duties and responsibilities.

“Genuine dialogue is only possible when there is a willingness to engage. No agreement can be imposed”

In addition to the Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Programme in Human Rights, you also attended the course in Conflict Mediation at the Faculty of Law – Porto School, at the Catholic University. What led you to further your training in this area?

Mediation provides a very valuable complement to legal, business and diplomatic practice, and can be applied in a range of areas, such as criminal, civil, employment, tax, environmental, commercial and even educational matters. Often, a court ruling resolves the dispute but does not restore trust or mend relationships between people. Whenever possible, legal and management professionals should prioritise dialogue and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, reserving recourse to the courts for situations where it is genuinely necessary. It was precisely this perspective that led me to pursue a specialisation in Conflict Mediation, to understand conflicts not merely as problems, but also as opportunities for improvement and transformation.

What aspect of mediation training do you consider most relevant for those working in international contexts?

One of the most important lessons I have learnt from mediation is that genuine dialogue is only possible when there is a willingness to engage. No agreement can be imposed; the parties need to sit down at the table of their own accord and be open to listening. That first step alone often represents significant progress.