Filipina Mary Joyce Crisanto has been feted as first and only Summa cum Laude of the Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria.

Crisanto said that she did not expect to attain the highest award. "I was surprised, I only found out later on. In the program, Ambassador Lulli Arroyo-Bernas was invited to the graduation. And they copy furnished me in the email. And that was when I found that I was graduating summa cum laude," she stated.

Crisanto serves as the Director of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and holds the distinction of being the first scholar in the master's program developed by Dr. Manfred Nowak, former UN Special Rapporteur on torture.

"It is the first master worldwide that is combining the arts with human rights. And it is appealing to artists, filmmakers, musicians, whatever, who said; "I would like to use my artistic skills and strategies for a good cause." And human rights are a good cause. So, I would like to learn more about human rights," Dr. Nowak said.

Crisanto's thesis is timely, as she provides recommendations to the national and local governments in the Philippines to strengthen the peace process for former rebels in the Southern Philippines.

"With the parameters presented by the Special Rapporteur on truth, justice, and reparations, I presented some recommendations on how to initiate the process of memorialization for the victims of gross human rights violations in Palimbang. It's an opportune time, not only because next year, they're marking the 50th year of what happened, but also now because the peace-building process in Mindanao is in full swing," she wrote.

"And, President Marcos, in his speech at the UN General Assembly last year, mentioned that he wants this to be one of the, what do you say, like a showcase of his administration, that stable peace will finally be in Mindanao and the whole country can move forward and progress," Crisanto said.

Dr. Manfred Nowak described Crisanto as one of their best students and was astonished by her intelligence in introducing the concept of the Philippine justice system to Austria. "She was one of our best students and it was great to have her with all her experience already from the Philippines, she was comparing transitional justice in the Philippines, which had been done in Austria in relation to the Nazi atrocities in Mauthausen and Gusen, where she brought also the Philippine Commission to look into what they have done and also what needs to be done," Dr. Nowak said.

Crisanto advised aspiring students who wish to study in Austria to learn the German language before coming.

"I would suggest to learn a bit of German before coming to be apostilled by the DFA. And then there's the extra-legal requirement by certain embassies. So, my suggestion is really not just choosing the program that you like, but also study the requirements because the difference between you actually being able to study, is getting that visa," Crisanto said.