PhD.c Arta Rama-Hajrizi is a distinguished jurist and expert in constitutional and international law, with extensive experience in academic, institutional, and diplomatic fields. Born and educated in Prishtina, she graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Prishtina and completed her master’s studies at American University – Washington College of Law in the USA, as a recipient of the prestigious Ron Brown Fellowship. She is currently completing her doctoral studies at the University of Szeged in Hungary, focusing on the institutional independence of constitutional courts.
Her academic career began early with engagements at the University of Prishtina, where for nearly two decades she served as a senior assistant in constitutional law. She currently lectures at the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Public Administration at AAB College, where she is also a member of the Governing Board.
From 2012 to 2021, Arta Rama-Hajrizi served as a Judge and President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kosovo, being the first woman to hold this high institutional position. In this role, she led key processes in the development of constitutional jurisprudence and in maintaining the balance of powers in a transitioning democracy. Previously, from 2008 to 2012, she represented Kosovo as the Consul General in New York, where she established Kosovo’s Consulate in the USA—one of the country’s first diplomatic representations after declaring independence.
Rama-Hajrizi is one of the most influential figures who have contributed to building Kosovo’s legal foundation. She was a member of the Working Group for Drafting the Constitution of Kosovo (2007–2008) and earlier participated in drafting the Law on the Constitutional Court (2004–2006). She has also been involved in USAID projects on judicial reform, including serving as a legal officer in the Special Chamber of the Supreme Court. Her experience also includes work with renowned international organizations such as the Finnish Human Rights Program and the Academic Training Association.
Her contribution to academia is rich and multifaceted. She has published numerous scientific papers and participated in major international conferences in Europe and the USA. Notable presentations include prestigious conferences such as ICON-S in Madrid, the Siracusa Institute in Italy, the University of Notre Dame in Rome, and the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo. Among her recent publications are:
“Ending an Endless Rivalry: The Case of Cooperation between the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Kosovo” (ASHAK, 2024)
“Advancing Constitutional Justice through Cooperation with the Venice Commission” (ASHAK, 2023)
“Policy Process and Policy Development Capacity in Kosovo” (KFOS & LGI/OSI, 2006)
She is also the translator of the manual “Understanding Human Rights” (2005), an international guide on human rights education.
In addition to her engagement in higher education and justice institutions, Arta Rama-Hajrizi represented Kosovo as a substitute member of the Venice Commission (2014–2018), an important advisory body on constitutional law to the Council of Europe.
Throughout her career, she has been awarded several prestigious international scholarships, including:
Stipendium Hungaricum (2021–2025), for PhD studies in Hungary
Bertha von Suttner Stipendium (2008–2011), from the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ron Brown Fellowship (2002–2003), from the U.S. Department of State
KFOS & OSI Fellowships, for public policy development and academic lecturing
She is fluent in Albanian, English, and Serbian.
She is married, has two children, and lives in Prishtina.
