Aarna Dixit (NYU Global Liberal Studies) |NANSEN | Brussels, Belgium
It has been a week since I have been living and working with NANSEN in Brussels. I live in an Airbnb in Anderlecht, a neighborhood with an excellent immigrant diaspora. Walking down these streets has allowed me to see some of the different cultures that are coexisting in Brussels. There are several African and Arab grocery stores in my neighborhood, reflecting the vibrant immigrant culture that flourishes in Brussels. However, I do wonder about immigrant rights and equity in Brussels, and working with NANSEN has been interesting in this respect.
I have been conducting research thus far on some projects: immigrant rights in the context of the Palestinian conflict, Queer immigrant recognition, Afghan family culture concerning immigrant culture, and an overall examination of the Brussels legal code and the ECHR. My participation in this coursework has been primarily regarding filling in the blanks with any residual research required. Another project I am about to start is regarding the sexual and reproductive rights of immigrants, in conjunction with a co-worker who is conducting a Ph.D. in this subject. This is an exciting project for me, as my area of interest and academic focus is sexual and reproductive rights. It has also been super interesting to chat with my colleagues about the specificities of cases, how they go about arguing cases for refugee rights, the research they put in regarding aspects like Country of Origin information and Burden of Proof, as well as NANSEN’s relationship with the UNHCR and other political organizations and individuals in Brussels. Next year is an electoral year in Belgium, so NANSEN has also been engaging in conversations with political parties regarding collaborations and endorsements. Through learning about this process and NANSEN’s participation in it, I have been understanding the Belgian political system more deeply.
Overall, in my one week at NANSEN, I have learned a lot and laid a healthy foundation for my future work and academics. I hope my internship continues to be this immersive and engaging. NANSEN is a small operation, with many of my coworkers working hybridly, and working remotely for many days. Our in-person office is a small room with four desks. However, there is a strong camaraderie, and my coworkers have been more than welcoming. I am the youngest and the only BIPOC individual in the organization, but am interested in exploring further NANSEN’s approach to DEI as it relates to immigrant rights. Overall, I have been enjoying my time so far, and am excited to engage with more casework and research.