LLM Study Trip: Geneva Winter 2023

Posted on: 27 March 2023 by Leticia Marcati, Sarah Devers, Charlotte Clayton-Hayes, Emily Pierce and Trian Smith in Blog

In February 2023, we had the amazing opportunity to attend the 29th Session of Human Rights Council Advisory Committee at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland as visitors of committee member and Reader at the University of Liverpool, Dr Vassilis Tzevelekos.

We visited additional international organisations including the International Labour Organization, International Committee of the Red Cross, World Health Organisation, and the World Trade Organisation.

Day 1 and 2 - The United Nations headquarters (Geneva)

Arriving at the United Nations we collected our credentials and headed to the Palace of Nations. We were mesmerised by the famous Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room, the largest room in the Palace of Nations where the Human Rights Council usually meets. The spectacular ceiling sculpted by Miquel Barceló to symbolize diversity didn't let us forget where we were.

Across our two days here, we witnessed committee members, state representatives, subject area specialists, special rapporteurs and non-governmental organisation representatives give speeches during the 29^th Session. Topics included neurotechnology, technology in military domain, climate protection, racial justice and equality and all the implications on human rights. We also witnessed the unprecedented and revolutionary participation of a representative of indigenous peoples (Tonatierra) to speak for themselves, giving a more effective voice to native peoples who play such an important role in maintaining and promoting climate health. We then attended the 84th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s, which was extremely interesting.

In between the Advisory Committee's public meetings, we spoke with inspiring staff from the Advisory Committee, the UN secretariat, and British and Greek diplomats.

“Everyone was extremely generous with their time and enriching information they shared. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to talk with intelligent and inspiring staff, ask questions and understanding their perspectives (and thus expanding mine). This was the greatest gift this experience gave me” – Letícia.

Undoubtedly, an insight to the employees’ careers within the United Nations was a huge highlight and we all left with a new perspective and an inspiration for our future.

Day 3 - International Labour Organisation and the ICRC Museum

In the morning we ventured to the headquarters of the International Labour Organisation.

“A fact I found particularly interesting was that each member state supplied one element of the interior design, whether that be the clocks on the walls or tiles for the floor that would help shape the building to what it is today” – Sarah.

The staff of the International Labour Organisation were extremely hospitable, they gave us an in-depth insight into the daily work of the organisation, whilst also learning about the history of the International Labour Organisation. We had the opportunity to enter meeting rooms in which conferences take place, and were given the opportunity to sit down with Thomas Lieby, a lawyer from the ILO’s Office of the Legal Advisor, to ask questions on the functioning and their journeys which led them to the International Labour Organisation. We also received insight into career opportunities that were available that we never knew existed! Overall, the International Labour Organisation was an incredible opportunity to visit, and we were very honoured to receive the welcoming we did.

In the afternoon, we headed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Museum. The museum’s exhibitions aim to shine a light on past and current humanitarian disasters and the work of the Red Cross over its long history. The visit to the museum was so interesting and quite emotional. One of the exhibitions displayed various handmade pieces crafted out of basic materials which had been made by prisoners of war.

“For me personally, the most harrowing part of the tour was the display which features hundreds of photos of children who were orphaned following the Rwandan genocide” – Charlotte.

The whole experience was extremely moving and very informative – demonstrating the history, challenges and successes of humanitarian action and the ICRC. After our tour we were fortunate enough to meet and have coffee with an employee of the ICRC. We were able to ask questions about what their work entails and why it's so important. We were also told about various career paths and internship opportunities with the organisation. We enjoyed this visit very much and found learning about the work of the ICRC since its conception in 1863 extraordinary.

Day 4 - World Health Organisation and World Trade Organisation

We started the day visiting the World Health Organisation. Here we met with Dr. Benn McGrady, Unit Head for Public Health Law and Policies, to gain insight on the organisation and his department. Benn’s department examines the intersection of public international law and health, with a particular focus on international trade and investment law and regulation of risk factors for non-communicable diseases. We specifically discussed tobacco products, and advertising and marketing issues; such as plain cigarette packaging in Australia. Benn provided an insight on the complex, and sometimes challenging, relationship between the World Health Organisation and World Trade Organisation.

“As a student on the Medical and Healthcare Law pathway at the university, this visit was extremely beneficial and insightful to ask questions regarding academic and career pathways, internships and experience working for a leading health organisation” – Emily.

In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to visit the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and speak to Jenya Grigorova, a Dispute Settlement Lawyer from the Legal Affairs Division.

“This was the organisation I was most excited to visit as investment and trade law is what I find most interesting, and it was fascinating to visit the location of the only international organisation that deals with the global rules of trade” – Trian.

When we met with Ms. Grigorova, we got the chance to learn about the history of the WTO and how the GATT years gave birth to an unofficial de facto international organisation. This showed us that although the WTO is quite short lived, its trading system is actually over half a century older. A lot of people are probably unaware of how the organisation has an overall objective of raising living standards and creating jobs. After an in-depth talk about the organisation and its functions, we then got the chance to ask questions. We were always eager to know how these professionals got to the place they are today, and it was interesting to learn about yet another pathway into the sphere of international law.

Later that evening, we attended a panel event on ‘Women’s Perspectives on a Career in International Law’, organised by ATLAS Women and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. We were able to listen to the challenges the women have faced whilst they offered their professional advice for this legal field. This was an amazing opportunity to meet women in the same field. It felt amazing and so inspiring to be surrounded by like-minded, career-driven women who truly have a passion for international law. Again, hearing everyone’s different stories confirmed to us that all paths into the profession are different, no two are the same and this whole trip has provided us with so much reassurance.

Final Thoughts

There is no doubt that we will be better people and professionals thanks to this experience. The five of us are extremely grateful to have attended such a unique experience. We feel inspired, reassured and excited for the potential paths we will all take after graduating from the University of Liverpool this summer. We owe thanks to Dr Vassilis Tzevelekos for allowing us to be his visitors during this week, Hannah Lewis from the School of Law and Social Justice Global Opportunities team for her work organising the trip, and to Dr Katie Johnston and Professor Amandine Garde for their connections in the international sphere and the opportunities it provided us with.

Note: Another LLM study trip to Geneva is planned for August 2023. Details will be advertised soon.