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Int'l Organizations & UN News #11/2024

Akmaral Bekbossynova - Tuesday, April 9, 2024
 Events   IO/UNS Newsletter 

 International Organizations and UN News #11/2024 - April 9, 2024

Dear IO/UNS Community, 

We wanted to highlight our last two events of the semester, "The Evolution of Cybersecurity Threats for the United Nations System" on 15 April and of course, our end of year celebration on 3rd May, where we will give out the annual IO/UNS awards and also come together one last time before the end of the school year.

In this newsletter, you will find: 

  • International Organizations News
  • What We're Listening To: ‘Leaving no stone unturned’: Documenting rights violations in Gaza
  • IO/UNS Student Spotlight
  • New MiA think-piece: Who Is Behind the Expansion of UN Peacekeeping Mandates?  
  • Events at SIPA and Beyond
  • Internship Opportunities

Daniel, Laura, Amy & Akmaral
IO/UNS Specialization Team

**Please note this message is clipped. You can open the message in a new browser to see full event and internship listings.

  • Palestinian request for UN membership in spotlight amid fears for Rafah invasion. The Security Council prepared to convene on Monday to consider a Palestinian request for United Nations membership as humanitarians expressed deep concerns about Israel’s planned invasion of Rafah and the desperate lack of aid reaching Gaza. “The planning is underway for a Rafah incursion, which could move up to 800,000 people, said Jamie McGoldrick, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

  • Today, the European Court of Human Rights decided that the right to respect for private and family life--enshrined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights--encompasses a right to effective protection by the State authorities from the serious adverse effects of climate change on lives, health, well-being and quality of life. The case concerned a complaint by four women and a Swiss association, Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz, whose members are all older women concerned about the consequences of global warming on their living conditions and health. 

  • The head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency reiterated that attacks against nuclear power plants in Ukraine are “an absolute no go”, following direct military action targeting the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on Sunday. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the targeting marked a “major escalation” in the level of danger facing the power plant.
  • The UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on Monday began proceedings brought by Nicaragua to halt Germany’s military aid to Israel. For Nicaragua, Carlos José Argüello Gómez alleged that Germany was “failing to honour its own obligation to prevent genocide or to ensure respect of international humanitarian law”. 

  • The UN’s overriding mission in Gaza to ‘flood the place with food’ and avert famine, has moved forward this week thanks to Israel’s public pledge to increase the flow of aid, despite signs on Sunday that the feared invasion of Rafah is imminent. That’s according to the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jamie McGoldrick, speaking in-depth to UN News exactly six months since hostilities began with the Hamas-led terror attack. He underlined that the entire UN aid effort is about saving lives “and nothing else.”

  • Gaza: Human Rights Council resolution urges arms embargo on Israel. The UN’s top human rights body adopted a resolution on Friday condemning the alleged “use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in Gaza”, while also calling for an arms embargo on Israel. In a resolution adopted by 28 votes in favour, six against and 13 abstentions, the 47-member Human Rights Council backed a call "to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel, the occupying Power…to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights”. 

  • The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned the latest rise in attacks by the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s restive east, which has undermined security and exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation. In a statement following a briefing last week by Bintou Keita, the head of the UN mission, MONUSCO, ambassadors condemned all armed groups operating in the country and demanded the immediate cessation of hostilities and of any further advances by the M23. 

  • Which Woman Should Be the Next UN Secretary-General? Michelle Bachelet, a two-time president of Chile and ex-UN high commissioner for human rights (and IGP Carnegie Fellow), is the winner of the informal PassBlue survey on which woman should be the next United Nations secretary-general, starting in the five-year term on January 1, 2027. Following Bachelet is Mia Mottley, prime minister of Barbados. Third place was snagged by María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, a former president of the UN General Assembly and an ex-foreign minister of Ecuador. Amina Mohammed, UN deputy secretary-general and a onetime environment minister for Nigeria, came in fourth. The UN has never been led by a woman, and numerous civil society campaigns are gearing up to promote the end of this decades-long gender imbalance for the next secretary-general term to succeed António Guterres of Portugal. The 1 for 8 Billion advocacy project by UNA-UK is underway, and the Global Women Leaders Voices nonprofit group promoting gender equality in multilateral organizations, said it was planning to advocate for a woman secretary-general beginning this year. Read more here. 

  • UN picks Saudi Arabia to lead women’s rights forum despite ‘abysmal’ record. The Saudi ambassador to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, was elected as chair of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), by “acclamation” on Wednesday, as there were no rival candidates and no dissent at the CSW’s annual meeting in New York. Sherine Tadros, the head of the New York office of Amnesty International, pointed out that Saudi Arabia will be in the chair next year, on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, a landmark blueprint for advancing women’s rights globally. Find out more here. 

‘Leaving no stone unturned’: Documenting rights violations in Gaza

The decades-long occupation compounded by Israel’s economic blockade and current military campaign in Gaza, highlights the importance of meticulously documenting alleged rights abuses, according to the head of the UN rights office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ajith Sunghay.

He says its crucial for informed decision-making and to counter disinformation: “We do not want to leave any stone unturned in order to bring the world's attention to the problems in Gaza,” he explains in an interview with UN News’s Anton Uspensky. 

Mr. Sunghay addressed violations on both sides of the conflict, and emphasized the importance of Israel granting OHCHR access so that justice can be served.

Find the podcast here, or on your usual podcast apps.

IO/UNS Student Spotlight

Introducing Jiner Fan (MIA, HRHP, 2025)

Growing up in China and the US has deeply influenced  Jiner's understanding of the world, where multilateralism is at the core of connecting both world for cooperation. Currently her core interests are in the Women, Peace, Security agenda, as well as the Humanitarian, Development, and Peacebuilding nexus. In 2023, Jiner had the honor to participate at the UN Comission on Status of Women panel regarding to digital gender disparity and transformation. As a cross-cultural communicator, she believes deeply in the power of shared visions and humanity. Connecting with people from different backgrounds through shared value and passion has gave Jiner lots of hope towards a future that is more gender equal.

Jiner absolutly adores planes and aviation, has a flight log that documented the data of every single flights she was on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We'd like to shine a light on each amazing member of our IO/UNS family. Please fill out our questionnaire here to be in next week's student spotlight. 

Events at SIPA & Beyond
Contemporary UN peacekeeping operations protect civilians, organize elections, assist with security sector reform, run radio stations, promote local reconciliation, and finance small-scale reconstruction activities. UN Blue Helmets can undertake up to 41 distinct tasks. This is very different from Cold War-era “traditional peacekeeping”, which focused on the monitoring of ceasefires and the separation of forces. In Who Is Behind the Expansion of UN Peacekeeping Mandates?, Kseniya Oksamytna, Senior Lecturer at City, University of London explains why UN peacekeeping mandates have expanded so significantly in scope over the last 35 years. Drawing on her award-winning book Advocacy and Change in International Organizations: Communication, Protection, and Reconstruction in UN Peacekeeping (Oxford University Press, 2023), Oksamytna traces the evolution of three agendas in UN peacekeeping: public information and strategic communications, protection of civilians, and quick impact projects to show how advocacy by key individuals – diplomats, bureaucrats, and experts – drove this process. Her insights highlight that international organizations are more adaptive than we think. New agendas emerge through bottom-up innovation by international bureaucrats, outside-in advice by experts, and top-down issue construction in intergovernmental forums. However, the emergence and institutionalization of new issues requires skilful, sometimes multi-year advocacy by dedicated diplomats, officials, or experts.

Read the full think-piece here and feel free to engage with this think-piece's announcements on BlueSky, X/Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Events at SIPA & Beyond

Spotlighted Events

11 April  | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Book Talk: Good Rebel Governance: Revolutionary Politics and Western Intervention in Syria

IAB 1302

RSVP | EVENT INFO

15 April  | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
The Evolution of Cybersecurity Threats for the United Nations System

IAB 407

RSVP | EVENT INFO

3 May  | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
IO/UNS & UNA End of Year Celebration

IAB 1512

RSVP | EVENT INFO

Oleksandra Matviichuk, Human Rights Lawyer
9 April, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Low Library, Room/Arena: Rotunda

A conversation with Oleksandra Matviichuk, Human Rights Lawyer, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties (2022 Nobel Peace Prize Winner) Columbia University students are invited to participate in a moderated question and answer session.

RSVP here.

Book Talk: Good Rebel Governance with Dipali Mukhopadhyay
11 April, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
IAB 1302 

When a revolutionary uprising erupted in Syria during the spring of 2011, pockets of local resistance and the nascent institutions therein transformed into clusters of rudimentary participatory politics and service delivery. Despite the collective fatigue induced by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States and its allies embarked on an effort to encourage liberal, democratic politics amid the Syrian conflict. As a result, the project of “good rebel governance” became the latest attempt at Western democracy promotion. This book moves the scholarship on insurgent rule forward by considering how governing authority arises and evolves during violent conflict, and whether particular institutions of insurgent rule can be cultivated through foreign intervention. In so doing, the book not only theorizes about the nature of authoritative rebel governance but also tests the long-standing precepts that have undergirded Western promotion of democracy abroad.

RSVP here.

"Economic Issues in the European Union" with Debora Revoltella (European Investment Bank)
15 April, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
IAB 404

Join the Center on Global Economy and Governance and the MPA in Economic Policy Management for the series: “The World Economy: Views of Chief Economists," presenting world renowned economists from the private and public sector to discuss current global economic challenges and their perspectives of the future.

On April 15, 2024, Debora Revoltella, Director of the Economics Department of the European Investment Bank (EIB), will deliver the lecture: "Economic Issues in the European Union".  

RSVP here.

Landing a Job at the World Bank: A Conversation with Recent SIPA Alumni
15 April, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Online 

Join recent SIPA alumni, including Ambrose Wong '23, Program Analyst, G2Px and Tirtha Patel '23, McNamara Fellow, Development Economics Vice Presidency, for a discussion on their work and how they landed their jobs out of SIPA. Bring questions for Q&A. 

RSVP here.

The European Union as a Global Human Rights Actor: Up to the Challenge?
15 April, 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
WJW 309

Under its founding Treaties, the European Union (EU) has set for itself the goal to “advance in the wider world … the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. How did the EU come to this bold objective? How is the EU pursuing it? What developments have we seen in the past 15 years, after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon? Are the EU’s internal and external policies and actions consistent with this goal? Are they effective? What achievements have there been, and what challenges does the EU face in a turbulent world, where liberal democracies are facing huge challenges and autocratic regimes seem on the rise? How does internal rule of law backsliding within the Union affect the EU’s ability to promote human rights abroad?

RSVP here.

The Evolution of Cybersecurity Threats for the United Nations System
15 April, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
IAB 407

The global ICT environment is facing a dramatic increase in the malicious use of ICTs by State and non-State actors.  The misuse of ICTs poses a risk for all States and may harm international peace and security. 

Protecting the United Nations' data, resources, and reputation is vitally important. As the Organization stores, processes, and shares more and more sensitive information electronically, preventing breaches is paramount. The Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) was tasked with establishing an information risk management regime and supporting policies for the Secretariat. In 2013, OICT developed an action plan to address the most urgent shortcomings and mitigate specific risks. That action plan is now moving to maintenance mode and OICT continues to proactively implement effective measures to address both short- and long-term information security concerns.

The discussion will trace the evolution of cybersecurity threats faced by the United Nations System over the last decades, focusing on the objectives, motivation and techniques of various types of threat actors, and the ways in which the institutional awareness, understanding and response has progressed and the organization has adjusted in terms of policies as well as technical and administrative risk mitigation measures.

RSVP here.

High Level Policy Dialogue on 23/24 HRD Report
16 April, 03:00 PM - 4:30 PM
UNHQ, Delegates Dining Room

Following the global launch of the 2023-2024 Human Development Report (HDR) last month, UNDP is organizing a high-level policy dialogue that will draw on the findings of the latest HDR for a conversation between the UNDP Administrator and eminent leaders and scholars, in an interactive setting with the audience. 

RSVP here.

Columbia Global Energy Summit 2024 
16 April, 8:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Online

The Columbia Global Energy Summit 2024, hosted by the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA, is an annual event dedicated to thought-provoking discussions around the critical energy and climate challenges facing the global community.

This year’s day-long Summit will address myriad issues at the heart of today’s complex geopolitical, environmental and economic landscape, including the impact of climate change and the energy transition on geopolitics and security; the outlook for clean energy deployment in the face of growing policy support, as well as challenges such as interest rates, permitting reform and trade conflict; pathways to mobilize finance for clean energy in emerging and developing economies; energy justice imperatives; and the impact for energy and climate policy in key elections around the world in 2024. 

Speakers include:
  • Selwin Hart- Assistant Secretary-General, Climate Action Team. Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Change
  • Avinash Persaud- Special Advisor on Climate Change to the President, Inter-American Development Bank

RSVP here.

Panel discussion on Abolishing Nuclear Weapons 
23 April, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Kellogg Center, Room 1512

Panelists include: Representatives from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons - Seth Shelden and Ivana Nikolic Hughes, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Chemistry, Columbia University, an expert in the field; Zhangeldy Syrymbet, representative of the Kazakh Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

RSVP here.

IO/UNS & UNA End of Year Celebration
3rd May, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
IAB 1512

Join the International Organization and the United Nations Studies Specialization and SIPA's United Nations Association, as we celebrate the end of the academic year, the graduation of some and the continuation of others. We look forward to spend the evening with food, drinks, and interesting discussions. We will also be announcing the winners of the 2024 IO/UNS Awards. 

RSVP here.

UNITAR Global Diplomacy Initiative (GDI) Fellowship Programme, Spring 2024 Cohort
19 Apr 2024 - 28 Jun 2024
Deadline: April 17

NB: This is a fellowship that participants have to pay for. 

Programme Area: Climate Change, Governance, Migration, Peace Security and Diplomacy, Peacemaking and Conflict Prevention, Multilateral Diplomacy

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has created an innovative curriculum that offers a transformative learning experience focused on diplomacy. This cutting-edge program provides students with a unique opportunity to engage with and learn from seasoned diplomats who are actively shaping international relations and politics. It is specifically designed for students enrolled in disciplines such as Political Science, International Relations, Urban Affairs, or related fields, as well as those who aspire to pursue a career in diplomacy.

With a strong emphasis on gaining a comprehensive understanding of global affairs, this program equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the international landscape. By directly interacting with diplomats and experts in the field, students can gain valuable insights, firsthand experiences, and practical perspectives that go beyond traditional classroom education.

The curriculum offered by UNITAR reflects a forward-thinking approach to education, empowering students to envision a brighter future through diplomacy. It is tailored to foster a deep appreciation for the dynamics of world affairs and cultivates a passion for making a positive impact on a global scale.

The Global Diplomacy Initiative Program is comprised of 3 hour duration courses, held once a week for 3 months. This program will be conducted two times a year: Spring and Fall.

These courses will be taught by distinguished Ambassadors and high level UN Officials. This program is designed for students pursuing political science, international relations, global studies or related programs and are in their senior year in undergraduate, and any in Masters/ Graduate program. Research students and professionals can also apply. Students of the program will earn a Certificate of Completion. Sessions are tentatively scheduled to take place every Friday from 10:00 am – 01:00 pm EST (TBC).

This programme will take place online and costs $2,000
Please email reem.ebid@unitar.org with your resume/CV and a cover letter for your interest in this programme. More information here and in the brochure that is attached to this newsletter. Event Focal Point: hannah.gana@unitar.org. 

Most SIPA students are not only required to participate in a specialization-related internship, UN-related internships are often critical to further develop skills and knowledge, build a hireable CV, and create or expand a meaningful professional network. Feel free to consult this document for tips and tricks for Sourcing Internships.

Intern- Humanitarian Affairs 
Deadline: April 14

The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. The Guidance, Learning and Reporting Section (GLRS) is recruiting interns for 2024. There are two internship positions available. They are located in the Partnership and Reporting Unit of GLRS at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York. Under the supervision of the Head of the Strategic Partnership and Reporting Unit of GLRS, the intern will provide support to the team on the development of CERF- and CBPF-related publications and advocacy products, as well as support a variety of analytical processes related to the pooled funds and their strategic partnerships. More concretely, the intern will be responsible for the following tasks: • Assisting in preparing high-level events, including meetings of the CBPF Pooled Fund Working Group and CERF Advisory Group, and the CERF Annual High-Level Pledging Event. • Supporting research and analytical work on CERF- and CBPFs-related humanitarian topics. • Providing support in the drafting of CERF and CBPF visibility/communication products, including related to key thematic priority areas and concrete allocations. • Supporting the drafting of talking points and briefings for senior staff. • Supporting data analysis for publications, visibility products and briefings. • Performing any other support functions GLRS as required.

Apply here

SIPA International Organizations Internship Stipend
Deadline: April 15

Please apply for a SIPA International Organizations Internship Stipend. We will support a few self-organized internships at international organizations that take place (or begin) in the summer of 2024. Internships must be unpaid, and in-principle should be full-time. To apply, you must have an official acceptance letter. Due to funding requirements, the fellowship is limited to SIPA students enrolled in the summer and fall of 2024. 

Apply here

Intern- Political Affairs. Office of Special Coordinator for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
Application Deadline: 30 May 2024
Location: New York

This internship is located in the Office of the Special Coordinator on improving United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OSCSEA). The Office supports the ongoing efforts of the SecretaryGeneral and the leadership of United Nations offices, departments, funds and programmes, along with other Implementing Partners, to strengthen the response to sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping, humanitarian, development and human rights sectors. Responsibilities Within the delegated authority the Political Affairs Intern will perform the following duties: • Conduct research on issues related to the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse including data collection and analysis; • Support in implementing internal and external communications strategies through the use of webbased tools; • Provide general office support services; drafting and/or processing a variety of correspondence and other communications; • Assist in preparing, updating and maintaining a variety of presentations and other communications materials; • Undertake other responsibilities, as required.

Apply Here
Political, Peace and Humanitarian Intern
Application Deadline: June 9 2024
Location: New York

Within the limits of delegated authority the Intern will be required to perform the following: •Support monitoring of relevant developments regarding efforts to end violence against children; •Assist with routine administrative tasks related to the work of the Office of the SRSG-VAC; •Assist in organizing conferences, events, and meetings; •Assist with note-taking and writing summaries/action points of internal and external meetings; •Assist members of the team with research and other related tasks; •Assist regional focal points in research at national, sub-regional and regional levels, updating country profiles and preparing country visits in the affiliated region. •Assist the team members in strengthening child participation in the work of the Office, including in preparing and translating child friendly documents, collecting and documenting child and youth-led initiatives to eliminate all forms of violence at local, national, sub-regional, and regional levels, and helping grow the network of organizations encouraging children’s participation in vulnerable settings; •Accompany team members to online and/or in-person meetings with delegates from Permanent Missions to meetings with other Secretariat offices and to sessions of the Security Council, General Assembly and other multilateral meetings; •Assist with the preparation of the 15th Anniversary of the establishment of the Mandate and with the preparation of public information (such as press releases, social media material, presentations and documents); and •Perform any other functions as requested by the supervisor.

Apply Here

Follow the IO/UNS Specialization on
CampusGroups,
 Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp.

Feel free to reach out to us:
Daniel Naujoks, IO/UNS Director, daniel.naujoks@columbia.edu

You can book office hours here.

Laura Mercado, IO/UNS Coordinator, ld3071@sipa.columbia.edu
Amy Younger, Program Assistant, ay2564@columbia.edu
Akmaral Bekbossynova, Program Assistant, ab5420@columbia.edu

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