Shaymaa Arif

Shaymaa Arif is a qualified lawyer and human rights professional with over seven years’ experience working across law, policy, and advocacy in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. She was admitted to the High Court of New Zealand in 2017 and holds a conjoint Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Waikato. She is currently completing a Master of Laws specialising in Human Rights Law at the University of Auckland.

 

Shaymaa has held senior advisory and policy roles across the public sector, including as a Human Rights Advisor at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and as a Policy Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Her work has spanned refugee protection, race relations, gender justice, migrant exploitation, disability rights, and preventing and countering violent extremism, with a strong focus on systemic issues affecting marginalised communities.

 

Earlier in her career, Shaymaa practised as a refugee and human rights lawyer, representing asylum seekers in refugee determination processes and complex immigration matters. She has also contributed to national inquiries and advocacy initiatives, including serving as a member of the Muslim Community Reference Group for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the 15 March terrorist attacks, where she provided community-focused advice on the impacts of racism, bias, and Islamophobia.

 

Shaymaa brings international experience to her work, including volunteer service during the refugee crisis in Lesvos, Greece, and participation in human rights programmes in the Middle East. She is currently part of the advocacy team at the New Zealand Women’s Law Journal, contributing to submissions on legislative reform and gender justice.

 

Across her professional and advocacy work, Shaymaa is guided by a sustained commitment to social justice, cultural understanding, and the protection of fundamental human rights, particularly for individuals and communities facing structural disadvantage.