Dubbo resident Karl Williamson's once-in-a-lifetime journey to Geneva, Switzerland, may have been cut short due to coronavirus, but the experience was still one he won't forget.
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Mr Williamson is a passionate Wiradjuri and Koorie man who works as a project manager at the NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation (AbSec).
He was given the opportunity to travel to Geneva where he was able to experience being an intern at the United Nations Human Rights Council .
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.
The Human Rights Council also addresses situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
Mr Williamson's desire to experience being an intern at the Human Rights Council stemmed from his desire to see the inner workings of 'big picture', international human rights systems.
"I wanted to see what type of impact this could have at a community level and how I could use international human rights and the knowledge I would gain to benefit our mob," he said.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Mr Williamson's internship was cut short by three weeks.
The AbSec project manager said although it was 'disappointing' he wasn't able to spend the full amount of time there, it was a 'great experience' to be there during the development of the coronavirus crisis and see its international implications.
"In the three weeks I was at the Human Rights Council I had some great and interesting experiences," he said.
"I was able to hear from nations and NGOs on the international housing crisis."
NGOs is a non-profit organisation that operates independently of any government, most commonly one whose purpose is to address a social or political issues.
"I was also able to listen to a high-level panel discussion marking the halfway point on the decade for people of African descent, and developing and delivering a statement on behalf of the Australian government on the topic of Indigenous women as human rights defenders," Mr Williamson said.
"In delivering the statement, I was privileged to speak about the women in my life who show endless courage and strength in the pursuit of a better life for all Indigenous Australians."