A lifetime chance internship during the corona virus pandemic

by Julianne Freire, Intern at the United Nations, 23 July 2020

From the Brazilian rainforest to the United Nations in Switzerland – but wait, there is a global pandemic in the way?

I am Julianne. I’m from Belem, a city in the north of Brazil known as “the doors of the Amazon rainforest”. I am a lawyer studying a Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Multi-Level Governance at the University of Padova, but I have been living in Switzerland for almost two years. As fate would have it, I came to Zurich on a one-year exchange at the University of Zürich. During this time, I had the incredible chance to do an internship at ETH Zurich in the Office of the President (formerly ETH Global). So, Switzerland became home.

Shortly after my stint at ETH Zurich, I found myself with another internship opportunity, this time at the United Nations in Geneva, in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Being in Geneva and participating in diverse high-level sessions, meeting people literally from all of the world and listening to their experiences was unreal to me.

The first month could be described as routine: meetings, sessions, researching and absorbing the knowledge and history of this renowned international organization. Walking at the Palais des Nations, the Palais Wilson, having a window’s view to Lake Geneva… I couldn’t be more grateful. Being part of the UN OHCHR meant getting news every day of human rights violations and many horrors, and for me it was important to continue believing daily that my work mattered to people in need across the globe.

Palais des Nations during quarantine (photo credit: Julianne Freire)

The second month, however, could not have been more different. The pandemic brought several new features to my day-to-day work: adapting to lockdown measures, tracking the pandemic, reading up on worldwide press releases. I found myself sitting at my desk researching about COVID-19, checking case numbers, and fulfilling emergency contact forms. It was then I realized the true meaning of working in humanitarian aid: the sense of purpose and strength of working together across borders with people committed to improving the state of the world. International cooperation was a game changer for me; sometimes you will be affected by issues deeply, and nobody can prevent it. This was the case for me.

The pressure of the pandemic starting in the middle of my internship and the aforementioned life-affirming nature of my work was already an emotional roller-coaster. But then, tragedy struck. My hometown was named as one of the most affected cities in Brazil. In the weeks that followed, I tried to keep in touch with family and friends from home, hoping everyone would be okay. But the spread of the corona virus was already very advanced in this region. Since the lockdown began in Switzerland, I have lost family and friends to COVID-19.

There were decisions to be taken and I decided to stay and keep working. In addition to my role, I volunteered to work for the COVID-19 infographics project, to help with translations and research on human rights issues of confinement measures., As I threw myself into my work, I realized this internship was much more than a professional experience, it is an intimate experience meant to develop my values and my beliefs. Working with issues that directly impact other people's lives can be difficult, but it is also powerful and gives me hope in the midst of these uncertain times.

These are difficult times for everyone and it reinforces the necessity for equality, for standing up for human rights and supporting each other. After all, we are only human. If all of these things hadn’t played out in the way they did this story would have been a fairy tale. But this is a real-life story. Nobody knows what will happen next. The one thing I know for certain, is that the journey must go on.

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About the author

Julianne Freire is a Human Rights Lawyer and a Legal Intern for the Rule of Law and Democracy Section, United Nations.

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2 Comments

Mary L. Radnofsky, Ph.D.
July 28, 2020 at 04:55
Since we met in Padova, I realized how exceptional you are — and I’m glad you’ve had such a remarkable opportunity at the UN. I’m finishing up my book on human rights for people with disabilities soon, and hope you’ll give me your expert opinion! Keep in touch. Continued success!
Maria Nannie
May 7, 2021 at 07:52
Mulheres que inspiram!