Sari Kouvo

Senior Lecturer

Department of Law

Telephone

+46 31-786 34 81

+46 766-18 34 81

Mail

sari.kouvo@law.gu.se

Visiting address

Vasagatan 1

41124 Göteborg

Room number

C518

Postal address

Box 100

40530 Göteborg

About Sari Kouvo

I am an Associate Professor of International Law whose research examines how international law is shaped and challenged by geopolitical change, conflicts, crisis governance, human rights, gender, international criminal law, and climate-security issues. My current research focuses on how international law, institutions, and governance frameworks are affected by geopolitical change, climate-related security risks, and weakened multilateral cooperation.

Throughout my career, I have combined academic research with policy and field experience. In autumn 2025, I returned to the Department of Law after four years with the European External Action Service, where I worked on climate and security, rule of law, human rights, and EU security policy strategies for the Sahel.

My previous engagements include co-founder and former co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, policy officer in the crisis management structures of the European External Action Service in Brussels, Head of Program at the International Centre for Transitional Justice, researcher at Amnesty International, and adviser at the Office of the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan.

I have taught or conducted research at institutions including Université libre de Bruxelles, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Kent University, Birkbeck University, the NATO Defence College, the Australian National University, and Åbo Akademi University. I received my Doctor of Laws in international law from the University of Gothenburg in 2004.

On other web sites

Research areas

International law; human rights; international criminal law; transitional justice; gender and law; climate and security; crisis governance; EU external action; rule of law; post-conflict state-building; global commons; Afghanistan.

Teaching areas

International law; public international law; human rights; international humanitarian law; international criminal law; transitional justice; gender and law; women, peace and security; EU foreign and security policy; crisis management; rule of law; post-conflict state-building; climate and security; legal perspectives on preparedness and societal crises.

Selected publications

Kouvo, S., & Motha, S. (2025). The New Brutalism in Law, State and Territory: Trump and Taliban 2.0 Amidst Climate Catastrophes. Law, Culture and the Humanities, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/17438721251352085

Kouvo, S. (2021). Teaching International Law in Times of Change and Crisis, Nordic Journal on Law and Society, 4(03). https://doi.org/10.36368/njolas.v4i03.158

Kouvo, S & Levine, C. (2016) Law as a Placeholder for Change? Women’s Rights and Realities in Afghanistan In The Public Law of Gender, edited by Kim Rubenstein and Katharine G Young. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.

Gossman, P. & Kouvo, S. (2013). Tell Us How this Ends. Transitional Justice and Prospects of Peace in Afghanistan. Special Report. Afghanistan Analysts Network.

Kouvo, S & Mazoori, D. (2011) Field Notes: Reconciliation, Justice and Mobilization of War Victims in Afghanistan International Journal of Transitional Justice, 5:3, s. 492-503.