A Summer in Geneva: MHR Student Recaps Her Work At The UN

Gonxhe Kandri is a second year Masters of Human Rights student and former Humphrey Fellow from Albania. This summer she interned with the Office of the High Commissioner in Geneva, Switzerland, working in Development, Economic, Social and Cultural Issues. In this interview, Gonxhe tells us about her positive experience at the United Nations and how it has helped shape her future professional goals.

Human Rights Program (HRP): Tell us about where you interned this summer and what you worked on while you were there.

Gonxhe: I was based at the Office of the High Commissioner in Geneva, Switzerland. My branch was Development, Economic, Social and Cultural Issues. The Chief of this branch is Todd Howland, who I connected with through the Master of Human Rights program during the project The Minnesota Method for Human Rights Change. At my internship this summer, I worked on various projects, but my main undertaking was working to establish the collaboration between the UN with universities in various parts of the world - specifically Mexico, Albania, Guinea, Azerbaijan. The aim of this collaboration is for the universities to determine through an assessment process, the fulfillment of economic and social freedoms based on their available resources. I led the group that developed the guidance note on possible frameworks to collect this information using a cross-examination approach. The question we are trying to answer is, “Based on available resources, is the state doing enough to fulfill economic and social freedoms-- such as prioritizing education, clean water, etc?” 

Under the OHCHR, I also worked on a research project that focused on business and human rights. OHCHR developed Business and Human Rights Principles. Under this initiative, OHCHR is working to find the best ways to make businesses socially responsible, and at the same time, empower customers with the necessary information to know the practices behind specific companies and if they are fulfilling the criterias of the human rights.   

Another project I worked on was developing a concept note on a series of lectures to raise awareness on the importance of economic and social rights, and to provide a platform for progressive dialogue that advances these rights.

I received amazing support from everybody in this department and other colleagues, and specifically from Todd. I had a great degree of freedom in taking initiatives and developing my ideas in the three projects. Todd did an amazing job in helping and supporting me to advance further these projects and building my professional confidence.

HRP: What were a few major takeaways or lessons that you learned this summer through your internship? Anything particularly surprising? 

Gonxhe: I was surprised by the work environment - it was very motivating and supporting. Being there, developing tools for global projects, having that platform as a human rights advocate was one of the most satisfying experiences. It’s true that it is a bureaucratic system, but if you have innovative ideas the UN will give you the space to introduce, implement, and support them. I never felt like an “intern,” I was treated as a professional, as one of the colleagues - that’s the culture of the office. I attended sessions at the Human Rights Council, and that was an experience in itself. I had firsthand access to hear from Human Rights Rapporteurs, the Commissioner, among other experts and activists from all around the world.
 
HRP: How was the internship related to your course of study, and how do you think it will help you in your career?

Gonxhe: It was the perfect match. Before I was more focused on specific human rights issues-- like gender and children-- but now I have shifted my focus to look at Economic and Social rights as powerful tools to change the realities of disadvantaged groups in society including women and children. The internship completely shaped my goals for future professions.