Dr Adina Portaru serves as Legal Counsel for ADF International in Belgium, advocating for religious freedom at the European Union. Prior to joining ADF International, Dr Portaru worked extensively in academic research. She was a research assistant at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and at the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Austria, where she assessed human rights policies. Dr Portaru earned her LL.M. in Law and Globalization from Maastricht University, and completed her doctorate in Law at Karl Franzens University in Austria. Her thesis assesses how the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Committee interpret freedom of thought and religion. Dr Portaru is admitted to the bar in Bucharest, Romania, and is a frequent contributor on the topic of freedom of religion.