W. (Welmoet) Wels, LLM MA

Originally graduated as a Classicist with specialisation in Ancient Philosophy, Welmoet transitioned to law after working in human rights protection in mental health care for some years. She commenced a masters in Public International Law at Leiden University, and after completing the course work left to work for UN peacekeeping missions. She spent several years in DR Congo, South Sudan, and Mali, always with human rights and protection of civilians in her portfolio. Her experiences in these missions provided food for her master's thesis, and she completed her LLM while in Mali. Her thesis 'Dead Body Management in Armed Conflict: Paradoxes in Trying to do Justice to the Dead' was awarded the annual thesis prize of Leiden University's law faculty.

Since her return from the missions, Welmoet has been working on her PhD research at the University of Groningen and as an independent consultant under the name Bellica Consulting. Assignments include humanitarian evaluations (Oxfam, MFA-NLD), lecturing (FINCENT, NATO SPCOE, PHAP, ICRC, POTC Slovenia), report writing and editing (IPI, PAX, NATO SPCOE), and research (UN/DPET, Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions). 

Her PhD explores the international legal framework on the treatment of dead bodies in armed conflict, examining in particular the question: which violations of dead bodies constitute an international crime? 

Welmoet is co-convener of the Dutch Peacekeeping Network (DPN). She is a member of the Dutch Network of Death Researchers (DONE), the Netherlands Network of Human Rights Research (NNHRR), the IHCL (International Humanitarian and Criminal Law) Platform, and PHAP (Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection).

Welmoet is a reserve officer in the Royal Netherlands Army.