My experience in the LBR team for the last 4 weeks have been insightful and enlightening. I have come to appreciate the technical and substantive efforts geared towards facilitating the important aspect of the General assembly, the meetings, consultations, and discussions. The team have exposed me to how they prepare for GA debates particularly on highly contested issues, and all the legal/procedural steps considered or followed going into every meeting. LBR works in conjunction with the DGACM and the two entities play a pivotal role in ensuring the GA carries out its mandate without any procedural challenges. I have gained considerable appreciation of the practical application of the rules of procedure in the GA. I have been closely following and documenting the Security Council Reform consultations, the GA revitalization debates and other key negotiations and all these have exponentially widened my understanding of the UN system.
The whole team as well as my mentor in the office have been supportive and constantly offering nuggets of wisdom on a number of issues. Moreover, the PGA has been on official visit to countries such as Japan and India, and it has been a great learning experience for me to be part of the debriefings after the trips. The PGA has extended the discussions to the fellows as well to incorporate our views/inputs on how to improve existing practices which clearly reflects his commitment to youth engagement at all levels. Furthermore, on the issue of inclusion, I am currently attending a number of the ongoing CSW meetings, addressing the issue of gender equality with respect to the development agenda. It can be noted that my ongoing task within the OPGA has given me a broader understanding of the issues being discussed at these meetings complementing my experience from the 77th session of ECOSOC.
