A Global Classroom: MSc Human Rights & International Politics Study Trip to Geneva
Published: 12 June 2026
Alys, an MSc Human Rights & International Politics student from the UK, reflects on her cohort trip to Geneva, where visits to key global institutions offered valuable insights and inspired her future career path.
Author: Alys Beckley, MSc Human Rights & International Politics student
As part of the Human Rights and International Politics MSc, my cohort and I were recently lucky enough to visit Geneva in Switzerland on a five-day trip.
Thought of as the human rights hub of Europe, Geneva is home to a host of global players, including the UN’s European headquarters, the headquarters of the International Commission of the Red Cross, and around 150 permanent missions to the United Nations.
The opportunity to hear from those working in the international human rights field was hugely interesting and insightful. It provided a fascinating insight into the work of a range of NGOs and international organisations, particularly the struggles many organisations are facing in the wake of widespread funding cuts. It also shone a spotlight onto the resilience and adaptability of those working on the frontline of these difficulties.
We stayed at the International John Knox Centre, where we were provided with 3 meals a day. Tragically, we only got one day of the giant croissants - a loss for us all :(
While the John Knox was in a slightly quieter area of Geneva, it was just a short bus journey into the city centre.
Some highlights for me included talks from Jasmine Zik-Ikeorha from the Association for the Prevention of Torture and Raffaele Morgantini from CETIM, an organisation focused on the rights of the Global South.
I also loved visiting the headquarters of SIT, an interprofessional trade union, to speak with their union secretary, Ximena Osorio Garate, and hear about their work with undocumented migrants. As part of this, I found it particularly compelling to hear about some of the underlying aspects of human rights abuses present in Geneva itself.
Our talk from Merce Monje Cano from the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation also provided an invaluable and honest insight into the difficulties facing NGOs and the multi-lateral system more broadly in the face of widespread funding cuts.
Additionally, it was a privilege to visit the Palais de Nations, the UN’s European headquarters. Aside from a nice gift shop (where I bought a mini purple version of the UN Charter), we were able to speak with two people working within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
First, we heard from Paulina Tandiono who works for the UN Special Procedure on the Sale, Sexual Exploitation, and Sexual Abuse of Children and then from Johann Soufi, head of the OHCHR Sri Lanka Accountability Project. It was invaluable to hear both about the important work they do and the career paths they took to get where they are today.
Another outing I found especially engaging was our trip to the US mission to the UN. The US mission essentially acts as a mouthpiece for the current government, meaning it was fascinating to hear how the speakers balanced their personal opinions with their work on behalf of the Trump administration.
I found that this discussion, more than any other, exposed the power imbalances within the UN and multi-lateral system and the ways these power imbalances continue to be sustained.
At the end of the week, we had an incredibly helpful careers talk from international human rights advocate, Claire Mahon, who gave us some valuable insights into starting work in the human rights sector.
Outside of talks and workshops, we also had more free time than I initially expected. Switzerland was having a heatwave, which was slightly uncomfortable when we were trekking around the city in our business casual wear, but perfect for swimming in Lake Geneva. We also explored the gorgeous medieval Old
Town and sampled some Swiss wine in the evenings. It was lovely to get to know, and spend time with, different members of the course as part of this.
Overall, this was a hugely rewarding trip. It was fascinating to meet with so many different human rights actors working across Geneva, while gaining connections and insights for our futures.
First published: 12 June 2026