The first cohort of the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (LISD) interns at the UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG CAAC)  attended a High-Level Side-Event at UN Headquarters together with Barbara Buckinx, Associate Research Scholar at the institute.

The event was held on Monday, May 22, in Protection of Civilians week, and it was co-sponsored by the Missions of Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Malta, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, OSRSG CAAC, and All Survivors Project (ASP). Speakers including H.E. Virginia Gamba, Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, explored gender-responsive measures to address the needs of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. That same day, LISD also released its report of a workshop on this topic, which was jointly hosted by LISD, OSRSG CAAC, and ASP.

This summer marks the first time that Princeton University undergraduates will work at the OSRSG CAAC, and the High-Level Side-Event was a promising start to their internships. Each intern has been assigned to a Working Group in the Reintegration Research Group, of which Barbara Buckinx is a Steering Committee Member, and they will conduct policy-relevant research on resilience and the prevention of re-recruitment; physical and mental recovery; gender inclusiveness; justice, human rights, and accountability; and meaningful engagement of children and youth in transitions. The interns will report directly to the Chief of Office of OSRSG CAAC, Sharon Riggle, and also benefit from the advice and guidance of other team members.

The 2023 Princeton summer interns are India Behl ‘24, Kristy Gonzalez ‘25, Noah James ‘25 (not pictured), Angel Ndubisi ‘26, and Aviva Schwarz ‘25.

Picture: from left to right, Marie Raffin (OSRSG CAAC), Angel Ndubisi ’26, Aviva Schwarz ’25, H.E. Virginia Gamba, Kristy Gonzalez ’25, India Behl ’24, Barbara Buckinx