UN New York 19.05.2007 - 26.05.2007

Feeling the pulse-beat of global politics

From 19 May to 26 May 2007, IFIL.ch together with the Career- & Projekt-Center (CPC) of the HTWG Konstanz organized a journey to the UN Head Quarters in New York. The project was supported through a co-operation with Lassalle Institute/Bad Schönnbrunn in Zug.

During our journey it was possible to get a different insight into what happens behind the scenes at the UN. With talks and presentations with representatives of the various UN Departments (e.g. Human Rights, Political Affairs, Trade, Peacekeeping or DESA), we were given an insight into the multifaceted work of the UN. Watching the election of the President of the General Council let us experience how meetings work at the UN.

In two meetings we got to know other UN-related organisations such as the World Bank and the International Organization for Migration IOM. A professor of political science at Columbia University gave us an understanding of politics in the USA. Finally, we completed our trip with a visit to the offices of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations, where the Swiss Ambassador to the UN Peter Maurer and a staff member described their work.