12 UN Interns with special abilities received completion certificates

Launched in March 2016, the Diversity Internship Program for persons with special abilities aimed to convey a message of non-discrimination and inclusion, as well as, stimulate other organizations and institutions in Moldova to follow UN example and to come up with diversity internship opportunities.

“For the first time in the history of the UN Moldova, we decided to launch this program to offer internship opportunities for persons with special abilities. We are happy and encouraged to see so much interest of many persons to join and contribute to our work”, said Dafina Gercheva, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Representative in the Republic of Moldova.

Victoria Botan, a young journalist with reduced mobility, Communications intern for four months at the UN, noted: “This internship opened many doors which were closed for me before. Now I better understand human rights issues, faced by girls and women, challenges that I have covered in the articles I wrote during this internship. This experience impacted my career and I am confident that will bring even more changes in my life.”

The United Nations Diversity Internship Program for persons with special abilities successfully finalized its first edition. Seven public and private institutions decided to replicate this initiative in their own institutions, to encourage partnerships for diversity and equality.

A 2016 study by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights demonstrated that direct contact with persons from underrepresented groups considerably reduces social distance and increases social inclusion. Internships for persons from underrepresented groups – such as ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons living with HIV etc. - can not only open new opportunities and contribute to better social inclusion, but also substantially increase acceptance attitudes within recipient organizations and institutions.