UN Watch in the News
Stonehill College press release
December 15, 2008
Recently, Thomaston native Ben Albert, a junior at Stonehill College, had the opportunity to do what few students have done, testifying before the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva. Currently working an internship for United Nations Watch, the Geneva-based NGO which monitors the United Nations, Albert read a prepared statement on Monday which addressed human rights issues in the Congo.
His statement read before all 47 delegates of the Council stemmed from a week of extensive research following the announcement of an emergency United Nations meeting to discuss human rights abuses in the Congo.
Albert, an International Studies major at Stonehill, along with another intern were given the task of investigating the conflict in the Congo as well as the lead up to the renewed fighting which broke out in August.
“The major issue we took with the situation was that the Council that convened the special session was the same council which had eliminated the mandate of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Congo, just a few months earlier in March, even after he warned repeatedly of the gross human rights violations occurring there,” said Albert.
In preparation for the statement, Albert also reviewed archived footage from the March session of the Human Rights Council in an effort to better understand why the mandate of the expert had been eliminated.
“It was an incredible feeling to give a statement to the highest international body for human rights with all the delegates present. It was especially amazing because it was a chance to make a difference in a situation that I feel passionately about and that urgently needs to be addressed.”
“It is no surprise that Ben was asked to testify as he is a first-rate student who does high-quality work. He has traveled widely, studied the European Union in Brussels in his Learning Community, and now has enriched his experiential learning through the International Internship placement in Geneva. I have high expectations for Ben. He has a very promising future,” said Prof. and Chair of the Political Science Department Richard Finnegan.
Interning for the United Nations Watch has allowed Albert to immerse himself in the United Nations office and its inner workings. He routinely covers sessions of the Human Rights Council as well as other bodies within the United Nations.
He also writes briefings, works on video projects for the United Nations Watch website, and conducts extensive research for statements at the United Nations as well as for press releases.
After graduation, Albert plans to continue his studies and is currently searching for Ph. D. programs in International Relations.
“I would love to pursue a job working for an NGO or government agency dealing with the promotion and protection of human rights with a concentration on the rights of women and children.”
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Stonehill is a selective Catholic college located near Boston on a beautiful 375-acre campus in Easton, Massachusetts. With a student:faculty ratio of 13:1, the College engages over students in 70+ rigorous academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and pre-professional fields. The Stonehill community helps students to develop the knowledge, skills, and character to meet their professional goals and to live lives of purpose and integrity.
”Copyright 2008, Stonehill College
Original URL: http://readme.readmedia.com/news/show/Thomaston-Native-Testifies-at-United-Nations-Rights-Council-Special-Session/314347
