Wrapping up an incredible chapter in Switzerland! 🇨🇭 Had the privilege of working at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, right at the heart of global diplomacy.

Estonia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva plays a pivotal role in advancing our national interests on the global stage. Geneva is the operational hub of international diplomacy, hosting over 100 international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the UN Human Rights Council. For a small nation like Estonia, active participation here is not just an option—it is a cornerstone of our foreign policy, ensuring that our voice is heard on critical issues such as digital human rights, cybersecurity, and international humanitarian law.

The most significant and rewarding part of this experience was being directly involved in the intensive preparation for multilateral negotiations. Formulating legal arguments, contributing to negotiation positions, analyzing resolution texts, and handling the substantive groundwork for high-level meetings provided a unique, firsthand insight into how global agreements are actually shaped. It demonstrated the intricate balance required to align national priorities with broader international consensus.

Alongside the negotiation prep, my focus centered on international law and human rights frameworks, including tracking the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. Estonia has been a staunch advocate for the protection of human rights online, championing the idea that the same rights people have offline must also be protected online. Engaging in these sessions meant analyzing complex legal texts and drafting interventions that reflect Estonia's commitment to democratic values, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.

Furthermore, navigating the UN system in Geneva offered a profound understanding of how international organizations operate. From observing informal consultations to participating in formal plenary sessions, every moment was a lesson in diplomatic tact, cross-cultural communication, and the enduring importance of multilateralism in addressing contemporary global challenges.

Experiencing the inner workings of top-tier multilateral diplomacy has been an invaluable asset. It reinforced my belief in the power of international law and diplomacy to create a more just and stable world, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to Estonia's mission in Geneva.

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