Five UN interns, representatives of marginalized groups successfully completed the internship program

The interns undertook six-month internships across six United Nations entities: the UN Resident Coordinator Office, UN Human Rights, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women.

Launched in 2016 as a pilot initiative to empower youth and promote equality and non-discrimination, the program has since grown into a significant platform for inclusion. Over the years, 67 participants—women, men, and persons of diverse gender identities—have strengthened their understanding of the work of UN Moldova and have gone on to champion diversity, equality, and inclusion within their communities. Reflecting on the program’s evolution, UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova, Yesim Oruc, emphasized that the seventh edition marks not an endpoint but the beginning of a deeper level of engagement with alumni. She highlighted that this continued collaboration is expected to nurture a new generation of young professionals across various fields, including within the United Nations system, noting that several former interns have already joined UN agencies as colleagues or consultants.

The UN Moldova Diversity Internship Program aims to promote non-discrimination and foster the inclusion of people from marginalized groups, who continue to face barriers to equal participation in decision-making processes, access to quality education, employment, and professional development opportunities.

In addition to their daily assignments, interns participated in a wide range of human rights trainings, networking events, and study visits. These included open-door sessions at key national institutions such as the Equality Council, the People’s Advocate Office, the Republican Centre for Psycho-Pedagogic Assistance, and the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.