How would you react if your manager asked you to deliver a speech in front of the United Nations Human Rights Council? Rumbidzai Masango, a second-year MPA candidate at SPP, “nearly fainted and was speechless” when presented with this rare opportunity.
Rumbidzai, currently a summer intern at the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) in Geneva, Switzerland, presented an ISHR statement at the 27th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on Tuesday, September 16. She spoke during the general debate about the special procedures’ joint communications report, a document acknowledging the “worsening trend of threats and attacks against civil society actors and human rights defenders, which we deplore deeply.” In her speech, Rumbidzai stated the ISHR’s alarm at “the lack of responses, or of substantive responses, to many of the allegations contained in this session's communications report.” She cited examples of such instances including six Filipino defenders killed allegedly in connection with their work to promote corporate accountability and land and environment rights.
Rumbidzai’s summer internship is part of her participation in the Open Society Internship for Rights and Governance (OSIRG) program. “My experience with OSIRG has given me a unique first-hand opportunity to analyze and influence policymaking at an international level,” explained Rumbidzai. Competitively selected for the program, she completed a 10-day clinical seminar in Budapest at SPP with colleagues from eight leading public policy schools before leaving for her ISHR internship.
Watch Rumbidzai's speech at the 27th regular session of the UN HRC here (select Chapter 34).