switzerland
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Previous service projects- Working with the United Nations as a representative of VIDES International at the IIMA (Istituto Internazionale Maria Ausiliatrice) Human Rights Office
- Translating documents from various languages into English - Attending UN sessions and meetings and generating reports from the session - Promotion and development of program |
national flag
languagesFrench, Arabic, English,
Chinese, Russian, Spanish capitalBern
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So far my work here primarily consists of attending meetings at the United Nations Human Rights Council, writing reports and articles for IIMA (International Institute of Maria Auxiliary), and assisting Sr.Maria Grazia, our director, with any IIMA related events. In essence, IIMA is a nongovernmental organization whose mission is to create a network between the Institute of the FMA's and the United Nations in an effort to protect and promote human rights. The office also strives to participate in the drafting of international policies aimed at promoting the “Right to Education for All” and to this end, organizes training courses and gives international visibility to the activities realized by the Institute worldwide. Thus, as a main part of my work, I attend UN meetings regarding human rights in different countries, gather information and take notes, and transcribe them into a report, which is then released to Sisters working in relevant countries.
Since I arrived, I have been to meetings on the elimination of discrimination against women in Jordan and Zimbabwe, the Human Rights Council’s Annual Report, and to a panel on torture and human rights defenders. One of my favorite parts about my mission thus far is the exposure I receive regarding human rights issues and that I am able to share that information directly with Sisters working on the ground in different parts of the world. It is critical for the Sisters to have this sort of information because many of them work in impoverished areas and unfortunately it usually is the vulnerable groups of society, such as the poor, women, and children, that suffer most human rights abuses.
- Rachel S.