Mr. Thomas Joie, LL.M. (International and Trade Law, Lyon III), LL.M. (International Law and International Relations, Lyon III), LL.B. (Grenoble II) is an Associate Fellow with the CISDL, with a focus on Trade Law, Biosafety and Development Law. Born in Ouagadougou, Mr. Joie is a citizen of both Burkina Faso and Belgium. He is currently a PhD candidate in International Public Law at the University of Paris V. His area of research covers mainly International disputes settlement, International Trade Law, Human Rights Law and Sustainable Development Law. He is currently writing an article, based on his LL.M.’s thesis on Peace and Security in West Africa, to be submitted for publication in 2006. During his studies, he participated, as legal advisor, to workshops and roundtables organized by an institution of the city of Lyon which deals with the protection of inhabitant’s rights. He is also the founder president of a not-for-profit organisation which purpose is to help Burkina Faso in several fields: campaign to increase public awareness on AIDS, assisting community health centres and orphanages etc.