Current student, Zara Riaz, shared the following about being a Summer Intern for The Permanent Mission of Pakistan to The United Nations …
What did you do as an intern at this organization?
As an intern at the Pakistan Mission I assisted Diplomats from Pakistan at The United Nations Headquarters in New York. I represented Pakistan at numerous multilateral meetings, informal consultations, plenary meetings and conferences. I covered issues within the First Committee, General Assembly, ECOSOC, and Security Council leading up to and during Pakistan’s presidency over the Council. I drafted comprehensive notes and reports on current affairs and conferences at the UNHQ. These conferences include but are not limited to the Non Aligned Movement, The Global Framework on Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management, The Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, The Group of Scientific and Technical Experts on Nuclear Disarmament Verification, and The Open Ended Working Group on and in the use of ICT Security.
How did you find this internship?
I reached out to multiple people in affiliated fields, I arranged meetings and career discussions asking for guidance. Ultimately, I was put in touch with someone who had worked at the Mission and applied through the website.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
I enjoyed working in a big city and learning to be more independent. I was able to form a great relationship with my supervisor and became engrossed in my work the more I learned about each issue I was covering. It was incredible watching multilateral diplomacy in real time, especially at a time where international law and global accountability measures are being challenged.
What did you find challenging?
I found certain Working Groups slightly less interesting than others, as meetings dissecting each paragraph of a lengthy text would sometimes last for weeks. However, I thoroughly enjoyed my work and did not find anything particularly challenging. The most exhausting part was the commute to and from work, but over time I was able to find the routes and routine that worked best for me.
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
The issues I covered became more interesting to me the more I researched and understood the importance of the resolutions being discussed. I would advise asking questions and having discussions with supervisors and seniors about the work being done, while also conducting independent research. While I did make friends with interns from other countries, I could have pushed myself further out of my comfort zone to meet new people, and I would advise someone else to make that extra effort.
