Unique and valuable experience

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Nisha was appointed the Executive Officer of the United Nations Association of New Zealand last year.

She participated in the commission as an NGO (non-government organisation) representative alongside other NGO and government representatives, including the Minister for Women Jan Tinetti and delegates from the Ministry of Women.

Her time at the commission was “definitely an experience that is very unique and something I really valued,” Nisha says.

“It was really interesting to see how the UN functions at this commission level, which involves a lot of conversations from various groups of stakeholders, and seeing the debate around the agreed conclusions from the government delegations – all contributed at the global level.”

There were many late nights and “lots of debate around each conclusion, which will hopefully be translated into the action plans for each country.

“As someone who is quite young it was really enlightening to see how they function at his global level, and to see how many passionate human rights activists there are across the world was a very inspiring experience.”

Nisha is 23 years.

Attending the commission “was a very enlightening experience to see how human rights and international relations occur on a global scale,” Nisha adds.

She also valued meeting people from all over the world, including some very remote countries in the Pacific.

This year was the first time in three years that the United Na- tion’s Commission on the Status of Women had met face to face.

Because of Covid-19 the annual event was held online during 2020, 2021 and 2022.

This year was the commission’s 67th session.

As well as being the Executive Officer of the United Nations Association of New Zealand, Nisha is in her final year of studying for an LLB Honours at Victoria University.

In 2020 the Victoria University Law Faculty presented Nisha with an award for her work in social justice and community justice.

She was the recipient of the Zonta Young Women in Public Affairs Award in 2017, recognising among other things her involvement as a Youth MP for Hamilton East and as a volunteer for Hillcrest High School in Hamilton.

Nisha has also served as a member of the Human Rights team on the Community Justice Project.