For an Australian student, going to Geneva to do an internship is in itself incredible and very exciting. However, my internship with ERI has been much more than just an internship and a pro bono work placement. Apart from meeting some of the most wonderful people, I have gained a world of invaluable knowledge and experience which will last me throughout my life. I came to Geneva to fulfil a requirement of my law course, but my work and stay with ERI gave me much more than I expected. It has opened my eyes to a world which I had not seen before.
In the process of doing the internship with ERI, I learned a lot about some of the areas of human rights that are the focus of ERI activities. But, more important than that, it has helped me understand some aspects of the legal and organisational structure of an NGO, as well as some of the approaches an NGO such as ERI takes in carrying out their work, be it community service or advocacy. Furthermore, the opportunity to observe the Human Rights Council (HRC) in session as part of this placement, has helped me understand how the HRC of the United Nations works in practice.
Aside from the fact that the knowledge and experience that I have gained from this internship will be of a great importance in assisting me achieve my goals in the future, it is now helping me make the right choices for my future career and be certain about them. I have always been very interested in human rights law, but now that I have gained some insight into what human rights involves in practice, I am convinced about my decision to continue to study human rights law alongside my other study goals.
Finally, a huge thank you to the staff of ERI in Geneva; even though I am sure that you already know, your work is of immense importance for the well-being of this world, especially to those otherwise voiceless, human beings around the globe whose voices reach the UN through your work. I wish you success in your work and happiness in your lives.
Abdul Malek Kazimi
Abdul was one of two students from the Australian Catholic University (ACU) who completed an internship with ERI recently. He is pictured at left in the photograph with fellow ACU intern, Heidi Pfeiffer. Heidi’s reflection on her experience appeared in the recent ERI newsletter