The following is a summer intern update from Natasha Delille. Natasha is interning at ADF International, an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
Sometimes it’s Best
to Just Jump Right In!
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| My Office |
The scariest thing about starting at my new internship with
ADF International's Vienna office was that I had never had a legal
internship and I was worried that I would not know what to do. Oh, I almost
forgot to add that I would be flying all the way to Vienna, Austria, for my
internship at ADF International.
What does interning at an international firm entail?
ADF International works on religious freedom, sanctity of
life, and marriage cases that go to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
Interning at an international firm that works with cases
that go to the ECtHR means that when conducting research I have to look up the
laws of the European Union, individual Member States, laws from non-EU
countries, and international charters.
Through my research I am learning a lot about the respective
roles of the different European courts and international treaties.
What have I worked on?
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The Organization for Security & Co-Operation
in Europe (OSCE) Conference During a Break |
During my second week at ADF International, I attended a
conference at the Organization for Security and Cooperation at Europe (OSCE), located at the Hofburg Palace in Vienta, on enhancing efforts to prevent and combat intolerance and
discrimination against Christians, focusing on hate crimes, exclusion,
marginalisation and denial of rights.
The conference was attended by delegates from more than 30 Member States, legal
scholars, clergymen, lawyers, representatives from NGOs, and a Regent Law student.
Throughout the conference speakers discussed the different acts of
discrimination and violence that Christians in their countries are facing. The
goal of the conference was to raise awareness and to discuss effective ways to
report and combat these acts of violence and discrimination.
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| At the OSCE Conference |
During the past few weeks I have assisted with the research
and drafting of letters to the European Court of Human Rights seeking
permission for ADF International to intervene in cases and a memorandum to
members of the parliamentary assembly. I have also have conducted research on
topics such as the rights of unborn children, home school education, sex
education, and transgendered civil status.
So, has it been as scary as I thought it would be?
Not at all! The work environment is great and I really feel
like I am part of the team. My assignments have been challenging and eye
opening. It has been such a blessing to have the opportunity to intern at ADF
International and work on some of the complex issues that affect Europe. I
think that one of the greatest things was to see some of the topics that I
researched mentioned in the news and in blogs; it proved just how relevant and
necessary ADF International’s work is.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
- Colossians 3:23
