WSA Internship Provides Invaluable Learning Opportunity

By Sarah Nedolast, WSA Legal Dept. Intern, January-March 1996

My experience at WSA introduced me to a broad range of global concerns and presented possible measures for improving the current system of international chaos. My duties, which included composing formal letters to heads of state and answering questions regarding the WSA, WSA documents, and the fundamental rights we all have as human beings, both enhanced my communication skills and provided valuable information and assistance to those in need. My work required that I use many international documents that define and affirm the fundamental rights of all human beings. These documents included the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, as well as clauses in national constitutions. They were used to support allegations of human rights violations and remind states of their obligation to uphold these rights. In order to expose these violations we appealed directly to heads of state and provided clients with a course of action they could undertake in claiming their rights and demanding recognition.

Working in the legal department opened my eyes to many of the absurdities found in numerous national legal policies. These formalities were often used to repress individuals' human rights and limit their ability to object to these impositions. The letters we received often depicted inhumane treatment and flagrant violations of human rights committed by the very structures instituted to protect these rights. In response, we provided these fellow human beings with support as they struggled to claim their basic rights and advised them on legal strategies to gain redress for these violations. I soon realized how interconnected all our human rights are. Although the right to freedom of movement may not seem to be the most consequential human right, it is often the basis for attaining others such as the freedom to claim asylum, the freedom to escape torture, or the freedom from arbitrary detention without trial.

My internship at the World Service Authority provided me with an opportunity to work with a human rights organization and allowed me to freely develop my own understanding of global citizenship while working on behalf of refugees and stateless persons. Additionally, it presented alternative solutions to global anarchy and confirmed the need for an enforceable, central authority to which all are accountable. This quest for order brings together diverse people throughout the world who share a common concern of global welfare and who are working toward the common goal of global cooperation and understanding. The knowledge and skills I have gained from my internship with the WSA will prove very useful as I continue my education and pursue a career in world affairs.