Intern Lina Achour on her mandate as UN Youth Representative

Lina Achour is currently finishing her Master's degree in International and European Law, and in February she started as an intern at the Representation of Flanders to the EU, where she is supervised by Youth Affairs attaché Jan Vanhee. This policy area closely matches her interests, because besides a student and an intern, Lina is also a UN Youth Representative for Youth Policy.  

We asked her a few questions about this position.

How and when did you become a UN Youth Representative?

“To become a UN Youth Representative, you have to take part in an election organised by the Flemish Youth Council. The selection procedure consisted of several selection phases: first, a written phase with several questions that focused on our knowledge and motivation; then six candidates were selected for an interview, followed by a campaign assignment and a final (three finalists) with a speech. I have been UN Youth Representative since May 2020. The mandate lasts two years: one year as a junior and one year as a senior. In the second year, it is important to assist and guide the new UN Youth Representative.”

What inspired you to apply for this position?

“I have always loved to speak up and take up my pen for issues that are close to my heart. At a young age - in primary and secondary school - I was on the student council and raised issues that my fellow students wanted to see improved. Later, my passion for international relations grew with an emphasis on the UN and the EU and I participated in several Model United Nations conferences abroad. At such conferences, in Oxford, Malmö and Prague, among other places, I simulated the workings of the UN and European bodies and took the floor to defend the position of a particular country. This interest in multilateralism continued to grow during my law studies and I knew already in my first year that I would choose the Master's in international and European Law. Later, I also became involved as a volunteer with the Flemish Youth Council. I had already heard of UN Youth Representatives when I was in secondary school, because the sister of a friend had been elected then. When, years later and with much more experience, I saw that a new UN Youth Representative was being sought, I did not hesitate for a moment to apply.”

What are your main duties?

"My main task is really to represent the voice of children and young people at the local, national and international level with an emphasis on the UN level of course. For this, it is important to raise topics that are close to the hearts of young people (and not only what I personally find important). Luckily, the Flemish Youth Council has a democratic procedure whereby the topics are chosen by young people themselves. This year, there are three priority themes: mental health, combating climate change and equal opportunities. The common thread in my interventions was "eliminating inequalities", especially within the education system, on the labour market and in gender-related issues. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on young people, their mental health and the importance of youth participation are also important themes I have worked on.

This year, the biggest challenge was undoubtedly the COVID-19 crisis. I was elected in May 2020 and the fact that my mandate fell in this complex year deprived me of many international opportunities and meetings. For example, we had planned workshops on the UN in several Dutch-speaking and French-speaking schools, which could not take place. That being said, I have been able to participate in many events, meetings and online conferences since it is also easier to "meet up" online. Recently, I had the opportunity to give an online workshop to students of UCLL on the importance of youth participation. The fact that I was able to talk to them about current topics and teach them something, gave me a lot of energy! Moreover, I still hope to be able to go to New York in October for the General Assembly if the sanitary situation allows it.”

In the capacity of UN Youth Representative, you recently had the opportunity to have a (virtual) conversation with Queen Mathilde of Belgium.

"This invitation to have a conversation with H.M. the Queen was a true honour. The discussion included the importance of youth participation, the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of young people and the role of young people in conflict resolution. As an advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals, Her Majesty attaches great importance to the role of young people within the UN. This invitation was an unforgettable experience and a great recognition of the work we do as UN youth representatives."

Will you be able to use certain skills/knowledge you gained during your internship at the Representation of Flanders to the EU in the performance of your function as a UN youth representative?

“My experience as an intern at the Representation of Flanders to the EU was a real enrichment. It has given me the opportunity to gain an even better insight into youth policy at the Flemish, Belgian and international level with an emphasis on the EU. Jan Vanhee has been attaché youth affairs for 22 years, which makes him a real authority in this policy area. It is therefore an honour to be able to work as an intern with an experienced supervisor. During my internship, I was able to write and read a lot and especially to give input from a youth perspective, which are certainly very important skills for a UN Youth Representative. For UN meetings, it is important to be well informed. Last but not least, I often had to respect very strict deadlines, which is also a very important professional skill.”