Justine, Conflict studies and human rights
Country: Benin
Canadian NGO: Centre d'étude de coopération internationale
Local NGO: Action Group for Justice and Social Equality (GAJES)
Field position: Environment and climate change officer
As a student in the Conflict Studies and Human Rights program, I was greatly sensitized to the importance of promoting respect for human rights. The organization where I'm currently doing my internship specializes in the defense of gender equality, and I'm working on an environmental and climate change mandate. The research I've carried out, the data I've been presented with and the discussions I've had with Beninese people have really enabled me to grasp the impact of climate change on women and girls. This gave me a better understanding of the different dynamics that influence respect for human rights.
As I'm passionate about human rights, the experience I'm currently undergoing is very enriching, not only because it enables me to apply, but also to better understand certain theoretical concepts in my program. It also allows me to acquire new knowledge and to approach things from different angles. For example, while the promotion of human rights and the importance of protecting them is something to which I had been particularly sensitized as part of my studies, my internship in Benin enabled me to better grasp the importance of awareness-raising. Indeed, I had the chance to accompany my NGO to schools for awareness-raising initiatives on the law for the protection of the environment and on the law punishing gender-based violence. During this initiative, I better conceptualized the fact that to enable the protection of human rights, the population must first be aware of their rights, as well as the legal and social tools that enable the protection and defense of these rights. So I'm very grateful for the opportunity to do this internship, which complements what I learned at university.
I'm now almost halfway through my internship, so there's still a lot to learn and discover, and I can't wait to see what the next few weeks have in store for me. However, one thing's for sure: I'll come away from this experience with a wealth of knowledge that will be invaluable.