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Int'l Organizations & UN News #2/2025

Daniel Naujoks - Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Events IO/UNS Newsletter

© UNICEF/Jospin Benekire Fighting has displaced thousands of people in eastern DR Congo, with many fleeing to camps near Goma.

International Organizations and UN News #2/2025 - January 28, 2025

Dear IO/UNS Community,

Hope everyone is back into the full swing of things and not letting the winter political blues get the best of them. Many things have been influx since the new administration, whether it is foreign aid or even the future of TikTok, but we must not lose hope and keep remembering and fighting why we are all at SIPA in the first place.

Several events and talks are in the works, so please stay tuned! We can’t wait to share updates with you soon!

In this newsletter, you will find:

International Organizations News
Podcast
Student Spotlight
IO/UNS Spring 2025 Courses
Events at SIPA and Beyond
Internship Opportunities

Daniel, Laura, Angela & Himadri

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.

27 January marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and Holocaust Remembrance Day. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said the essence of commemorations was to acknowledge the past but they “must also examine the present and look to the future.” Underlying the rise of hateful rhetoric, with rising antisemitism on the streets and online, the UN rights chief further expressed that “discrimination and dehumanisation are winning out over solidarity and compassion; diversity is viewed as a threat rather than something to be treasured; and many leaders are undermining and weakening the rule of law.”
An emergency Security Council meeting was called on 26 January due to increased violence and killings in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo amid peacekeeper and civilian deaths, along with sharp calls for action from top UN officials. Head of UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, Bintou Keita says "we are trapped" and calls for immediate action to end the crisis.
Top UN officials in Lebanon are calling for compliance with the ongoing ceasefire after reports that Israeli forces killed 15 people, including a Lebanese soldier, along the buffer zone with Israel, which Israel was due to withdraw from on Sunday under the agreement. The timelines mentioned in the November ceasefire agreement “have not been met”, according to a joint statement by UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and head of the UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, and force commander Aroldo Lázaro. The agreement between Israel and armed group Hezbollah had been reached after more than a year of fighting, stemming from the Israeli war in Gaza. “As seen tragically this morning, conditions are not yet in place for the safe return of citizens to their villages along the Blue Line,” they said, referring to the buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon.
On 25 January, Trump administration memo tells USAID to put "America First" in reviewing foreign aid. It threatened "disciplinary action" for any staff ignoring the administration's orders.
More than 1,100 UN peacekeepers are currently deployed in the Golan, a demilitarised zone along the Israel-Syria border at what is a tense and dangerous time in the history of the region. One of the UN’s longest-standing peacekeeping missions – the UN Disengagement Observer Force, known by its acronym UNDOF – began more than a half century ago when the 1973 Middle East crisis erupted. The Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian forces was concluded after providing an area of separation for two equal zones of limited forces and armaments on both sides of the area. UNDOF was established to supervise its implementation. On 17 January, the acting mission chief Mr. Gauchat told the Security Council that “it is imperative that the UN peacekeepers are allowed to carry out their mandated tasks without obstruction,” urging all parties to maintain the ceasefire and respect the terms of the 1974 agreement.
24 January marks the International Day of Education. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized learning as a basic human right and foundation for individual and societal growth. His message highlighted the dual nature of technological advances such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), which offer immense potential – but also pose considerable risks. “Education is an essential building block for every person to reach their full potential, and for societies and economies to grow and flourish”, Mr. Guterres said.

Benjamin Perks | Love is the One Thing that Solves Everything (Season 10, Episode 4) - Awake at Night, Podcast with Melissa Fleming

Having overcome a childhood marked by violence, abuse and neglect, Benjamin Perks has always drawn strength from an innate sense of optimism. Now Head of Campaigns and Advocacy at UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, he helps protect young people in similar situations all over the world.

“I think it was very clear that we were in a bad spot, though, being dealt a bad hand, but I was somehow optimistic that things would be better.”

Benjamin Perks, author of his new book, Trauma Proof, reflects in this episode on a lifetime campaigning for all children to be safe, seen, and soothed, and on how an encounter with a special teacher put his life back on track.

“When I held my son in my arms, I knew that what had happened to me was now unimaginable to myself… that made me ask the question, if I can heal from it, if I can recover and not transmit it to my child, can we do this for the whole of humanity?”

You can listen to the podcast here.

IO/UNS Student Spotlight

This week we are excited to introduce Vato Peradze (MIA, 2026)!

As an advisor intern at the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the UN, Vato has developed a deep interest in multilateralism and global governance due to their vital role in addressing shared global challenges. Georgia’s geopolitical realities, including unresolved territorial conflicts and the pursuit of Euro-Atlantic integration, have shown him the importance of collective action, diplomacy, and rule-based international cooperation to safeguard sovereignty and promote peace.

Key issues of interest to him include conflict resolution, sustainable development, and international security, particularly in the context of small states navigating complex global systems. Vato believes that multilateral institutions, when effectively managed, are indispensable for creating inclusive solutions to global inequality, fostering stability, and strengthening international law.

His experiences as an intern in the Parliament of Georgia and at Columbia University’s SIPA have deepened his understanding of international decision-making and policy analysis. Working closely with diplomatic representatives, Vato has gained firsthand insight into how states advocate for their interests while collaborating on common goals. This role has further solidified his commitment to advancing Georgia’s voice in multilateral level and his belief in the transformative power of collective action to address humanity’s most pressing issues.

You can follow Vato on LinkedIn @Vato Peradze!
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We're proud of our great community! Help your classmates get to know you more. Fill out our questionnaire here to be featured in our spotlight here!

Registration for Spring 2025 SIPA courses will continue until Friday, January 31. At this link, you find a list of classes accredited by the International Organization and UN Studies specialization, that we hope can help you decide the final composition of this semester's course schedule.

12 Feb 2025, 11am-1pm
Civil Society Organization Townhall with the President of the General Assembly
UNHQ, NY

RSVP | EVENT INFO

20 January 2025 - 28 March 2025
Part I of the Annual Conference on Disarmament
UNHQ, NY

Part I of the Annual Conference on Disarmament begins 20 January. The Conference on Disarmament (CD), is the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community. The CD and its predecessors have negotiated major multilateral arms limitation and disarmament agreements such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC) and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Learn more and follow the discussions in the 2025 Conference.

12 February 2025
Civil Society Organization Townhall with the President of the General Assembly
UNHQ, NY

UN Department of Global Communications invites you to a two-part Civil Society Townhall on 12 February 2025.

Part 1: A Dialogue with H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang, President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

Part 2: The role of civil society engagement in the implementation of the Summit of the Future's Pact for the Future and other Summit outcomes.

The President of the General Assembly intends to engage with civil society on his priorities to promote a whole of society approach, share best practices and develop innovative, long-term and forward-thinking ideas. Register by 12:00 pm EST on 27 January 2025 to submit your questions or expression of interest to speak. https://indico.un.org/event/1015739

10 - 21 March 2025
Sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women
UNHQ, NY

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights and the empowerment of women. The sixty-ninth session of the Commission will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 21 March 2025. The deadline for Permanent Missions, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations entities to register for CSW side events is 31 January 2025.

10-14 February 2025
Third Session of the Preparatory Committee (3rd PrepCom) for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development
UNHQ

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are off track. Decades of progress on poverty and hunger have stalled, and in some cases, been thrown into reverse. Many developing economies are mired in debt, with financing challenges preventing the urgently needed investment push in the SDGs. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) provides a unique opportunity to reform financing at all levels, including to support reform of the international financial architecture. The Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development will be held in Conference Room 3 of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Registration for the 3rd PrepCom, from 10 to 14 February 2025, is now open.

Register here

30 June to 11 July 2025
63rd Graduate Study Programme: UN80: United for a Better Future
Geneva, Switzerland

The 63^rd Graduate Study Programme will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 30 June to 11 July 2025 under the theme: “UN80: United for a Better Future” and will focus on the implementation of the historic Pact for the Future in the year when the United Nations turns 80.The Programme will consist of morning lectures given by representatives of the United Nations, other international organizations, civil sector, and diplomats; workshops; visits to institutions; and work on group projects in the afternoons. Learn more and apply by 28 February 2025.

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.

DDR Programming Support Intern

Application Deadline: 31 January 2025
Location: New York

The duration of the internship is for three (3) months with a possibility of extension. The internship is located in the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Section of the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). The DDR Section (DDRS) provides planning and operational support to DDR programmes and community violence reduction in the following peacekeeping operations: United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU). The Section also assists Special Political Missions as well as non-mission settings with planning for DDR and associated processes. The Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) was established in 2007 to strengthen the links and coordinate the Department's activities in the areas of police, justice and corrections, mine action, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants and security sector reform. (https: //peacekeeping.un.org/en/department-of-peacekeeping-operations).

Apply Here

STAP Environmental Affairs Intern

Application Deadline: 1 February 2025
Location: Washington

*This internship is designed to be full-time and in person but can be adjusted based on the needs of the successful candidate. The internship is expected to last for six months.*

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. This internship is located within the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) Secretariat in Washington D.C. STAP provides independent scientific and technical advice to the GEF on its policies, strategies, programs, and projects. Under the supervision of a Programme Officer, Intern will: - Assist with research on issues related to the main focal areas of the GEF: biodiversity, climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, chemicals and waste, land degradation, and international waters, for example to help with STAP Papers. - Assist in preparing speaking notes and presentations, and in organizing STAP meetings and workshops; - Assist with STAP communications, including updating the STAP website; - Perform other duties as assigned.

Apply Here

Intern - Conference Services

Application Deadline: 2 February 2025
Location: New York

*The start date is in March 2025 and is projected to be for six months.*

The intern's responsibilities will depend upon the nature of the project(s) undertaken, the background of the intern, and the duration of the internship. The daily responsibilities might include, but not necessarily be limited to: • Provide assistance in the formulation of conference management statistics • Provide technical assistance in global IT projects • Provide assistance in costing of conference services • Provide assistance in preparing and updating the UN calendar of conferences and meetings • Provide assistance in preparation and distribution of monthly, weekly and daily meetings programmes • Provide assistance in attending queries from delegates and secretariats regarding meetings programme, One-Stop-Shop system for conference services requests and the UN calendar of conferences and meetings • Provide assistance in coordinating conference services with other service providers.

Apply Here

Economic Affairs Intern - Development Policy Branch

Application Deadline: 2 February 2025
Location: New York

The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. Its work is guided by the universal, integrated and transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 associated targets adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015. The Economic Analysis and Policy Division (EAPD) provides research and policy analysis on global macroeconomic trends and prospects, frontier issues, emerging issues, and issues associated with countries in special situations, in the broad context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. EAPD also serves as the Secretariat of the Committee for Development Policy, an independent advisory body of the Economic and Social Council which provides recommendations on cross-cutting development issues and reviews the status of countries in the least developed country (LDC) category. EAPD manages capacity development projects in developing countries, providing assistance through research, training and workshops. The intern will report to the Economic Affairs Officer in the DESA Economic Analysis and Policy Division, Development Policy Branch. The intern will conduct research on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Least Developed Countries, economic and social development. The intern will work daily with the supervisor in the conduct of research with strong emphasis on the 2030 Agenda.

Apply Here

Contributing to a Growing Ecosystem of Data for Peace and Security - Intern

Application Deadline: 14 February 2025
Location: New York

*The duration of the internship is for four months with a possibility to extend to six months.*

This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person but can be adjusted based on the needs of the successful candidate to part-time (20 hours per week) and/or remote. This internship is located in the Information Management Unit in the in the Department of Peace Operations at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to UN peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions. Information Management Unit oversees the information management systems, policies, and processes for the DPPA-DPO, supporting analysis, solutions development and advisory services. Under the overall supervision of the Chief Information Management Officer, the incumbent reports directly to the Project Manager of the Peace and Security Data Hub. Our interns work as members of the Peace and Security Data Hub team in the IMU, pursuing projects that are designed to make a significant difference in the whole department, and have opportunities to learn about the United Nations overall. We are looking to fill two distinct intern profiles: 1. We encourage applicants with experience in Political, Human Rights, or Humanitarian Affairs, as well as a background in client-facing, user-centric design processes. 2. We are also seeking candidates with strong technical skills to support the operational side of our projects. Both profiles are expected to develop business process solutions that address shortfalls in the peace and security data ecosystem of the United Nations.

Apply Here

Human Resources Intern - Research and Program Management

Application Deadline: 18 February 2025
Location: New York

The Global Strategy and Policy Division of the Office of Human Resources/DMSPC seeks enthusiastic and dedicated interns to join our team. The prospective intern must have a strong interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in promoting geographical diversity; excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills; effective communication and interpersonal skills; capable of working collaboratively in a team environment; ability to handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously with attention to detail and proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). The intern will support the workstream responsible for coordinating efforts to increase geographical representation in the UN Secretariat by developing partnerships with Member States, undertaking targeted talent outreach campaigns to draw the broadest pool of candidates for Secretariat positions, and focusing on attracting candidates from unrepresented and underrepresented Member States. The team develops innovative talent outreach initiatives to attract and retain a diverse workforce in the Organization. The workstream also supports the implementation of purposeful partnership arrangements with Member States. The intern will report to the Human Resources Officer. Be sure to read through the intern's responsibilities on the website.

Apply Here

Program Management Intern - Support to Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy and to the Pilot Network for Uniformed Women

Application Deadline: 22 February 2025
Location: New York

The internship is for a period of 6 months. In your letter of motivation, please include the desired internship dates and work modality. Please also specify any relevant information regarding US-visa, if applicable. This internship will provide broader programmatic support to implement gender parity strategies for uniformed personnel in UN Peacekeeping, and among others, support a project to develop and pilot a network of uniformed women peacekeepers. The internship is situated within the Office for Coordination and Shared Services in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions. The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to UN peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. DPO also provides guidance and support on military, police, rule of law, mine action and other relevant issues to other UN political and peacebuilding missions. This internship will provide broader programmatic support to implement gender parity strategies for uniformed personnel in UN Peacekeeping, and among others, support a project to develop and pilot a network of uniformed women peacekeepers.

Apply Here

Digital Communications Intern

Application Deadline: 2 March 2025
Location: New York

The internship is located in the Chinese Language Unit, Social Media Section, Campaigns and Country Operations Division of the Department of Global Communications. The section is responsible for social media activities of the Department of Global Communications and the integration of social media platforms, including social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter, WeChat, Weibo, Tumblr, Flickr and YouTube, which are critical component of the Department's communications. We encourage candidates who can ideally commit to a full-time schedule for a minimum duration of three months and work with us in person. However, interns can begin working remotely until they successfully obtain a G4 Visa and all necessary travel documents. Within delegated authority, the public information intern may be responsible for the following duties: - Research, compile, draft and edit basic information (text, images, videos, infographics) for use in the preparation and production of Chinese social media content, often under tight deadlines. - Monitor and analyze statistics related to social media content, including Engagement Metrics (Likes, shares, comments, retweets, and saves; Click-through rates on links in posts; Video views, watch time, and completion rates); Audience Analytics (Demographics such as age, gender, location, language; Audience growth and Audience activity such as peak engagement times, device usage); Content Performance (Post reach and impressions; Top-performing posts based on engagement; Content types and their effectiveness); And Platform-Specific Metrics. - Create content by capturing highlights from special events promoting UN mandates held at the UN Headquarters in NY. - Develop engaging and creative content tailored for platforms like Weibo, Kuaishou, and Bilibili to effectively communicate the UN’s core priorities—such as the Sustainable Development Goals, climate action, and peacebuilding—while reaching younger and broader audiences in the Chinese-speaking world.

Apply Here

Environmental Affairs Intern

Application Deadline: 30 March 2025
Location: New York

The Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch (IPRB) in the Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development (OISC), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is accepting applications for internships. The prospective intern should have a background in international relations, economics, sustainable development, or a related and relevant social science, including web-based applications. The selected intern(s) will be responsible for one or more of the following duties in general for specific activities. The intern(s) will provide substantive support and assistance to OISC/IPRB's support to United Nations intergovernmental deliberations of the General Assembly (GA), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) especially to sustainable development and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Apply Here

Economic Affairs Intern

Application Deadline: 13 April 2025
Location: New York

This internship is with the Regional Commissions - New York Office under the Economic, Social, and Development group. Daily responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:-Attend (in-person) and take notes of intergovernmental and UN inter-agency meetings; (e.g. meetings of the General Assembly Committees and of the Economic and Social Council);-Draft official documents (e.g. background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.) and weekly reports to be disseminated to the Regional Commissions;-Conduct analysis and research of regional trends and regional dimensions of sustainable development;-Logistical assistance during conferences/meetings of the Regional Commissions; -Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Apply Here

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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
Angela To, Program Assistant, hat2123@columbia.edu
Himadri Ratnayake, Program Assistant, hr2574@columbia.edu

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