A varied programme of lectures, guided tours and the opportunity to interact with United Nations staff and learn more about their work was offered. Participants were able to attend the 36th Special Session on the ongoing conflict in Sudan and hear statements by the Austrian High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and various state representatives on the situation there. This was followed by lectures and guided tours of the WTO, ILO, UNHCR, CERN and the Palais des Nations. In addition to the University of Graz, students from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna also took part in the excursion, which led to an exciting exchange and gain in experience.
The starting point for the organisation and running of the excursion in Geneva was the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations. There, the participants were welcomed and guided through the intensive programme by Mag. Nicolas Wimberger. An evening reception at the residence of the Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria, Ges. Mag. Christoph Wieland, enabled the students to have a personal exchange with United Nations staff.
The excursion was an extraordinary experience for all participants, as they were able to experience at close quarters how different activities in the field of international law look like. Many thanks to Univ.-Prof. Bot. Dr. Helmut Tichy, LLM for making the excursion possible, to Ges. Mag. Christoph Wieland for the attentive reception and especially to Mag. Nicolas Wimberger for the wonderful organisation and guidance through the exciting programme!
(Report by study assistant Almut Winkelbauer)