Team

Madara Dias is currently working as a Technical and Administrative Operations
Specialist at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba. She is a graduate of the Master
of Human Rights program at the University of Manitoba. She holds a Bachelor of Arts
(First Class Honours) in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Sri
Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, where her academic work focused on victim protection,
gender justice, and social inequality. She also holds a Diploma in Human Rights, is a
Certified Drug Counsellor in Sri Lanka, and has completed specialized training in the
rule of law, ethical data collection, gender-responsive research, and peace negotiation.
Her interest in human rights emerged through research on gender discrimination, rural
marginalization, and access to justice in Sri Lanka. Previous experience as a Graduate
Research Assistant and Associate Coordinator of Graduate Studies strengthened her
commitment to rights-based research and policy-oriented analysis, particularly in
contexts affected by conflict and social vulnerability.
Madara’s research interests include refugee and child rights, forced displacement,
gender-based discrimination, criminal justice, peacebuilding, and regional security in
South and Southeast Asia. She completed her practicum at the Conflict and Resilience
Research Institute Canada (CRRIC), contributing to research, policy writing, and
knowledge mobilization initiatives. She is dedicated to advancing inclusive, evidence-
based, and gender-sensitive approaches to human rights advocacy and aspires to build
a career in research and policy development supporting displaced and marginalized
communities.