Aarna Dixit

As the conclusion of my internship with NANSEN in Brussels, Belgium nears, I am grateful for everything I have learned. I have received more clarity about my career goals and academic interests. I am eager to take the learnings of my internship and apply them to my academics. Since I will be studying abroad in Paris next year, my newly deepened understanding of the EU political system as well as the French language, fostered through my internship, will serve me well. As a Global Liberal Studies major with a concentration in Politics, Rights, and Development, this internship has taught me various skills and given me the global political and legal contact I need to advance my studies and career. 

Aarna Dixit | NANSEN | Brussels, Belgium

I have enjoyed working with NANSEN so far. It has been interesting to see how a grassroots human rights organization functions in the European Union Context. Learning about the differences between the US and the EU when it comes to legislation and politics has been very eye-opening. The specific legal jargon that is used in the EU has taken me a while to decipher, but I have begun to understand the system and the different bodies of governance better. Some of the projects I am working on include helping the University of Ghent’s Legal Clinic Students edit their essays. The Legal Clinic at UGhent has a partnership with NANSEN, and I have gotten the opportunity to meet with these law students, understand their journeys and what they are learning, and read their writing. I have appreciated this youth aspect of my work while at NANSEN. I am also working with a colleague, a Ph.D. student, on issues of gender stereotyping and gender-based violence in asylum procedures. This is interesting to me given my academic focus and passion for gender and sexuality studies and activism.

One thing I have realized is that so far my journey in the human rights and global social justice movement has been largely theoretical, with me learning about sociopolitical issues through a pore political and sometimes even philosophical lens. The legal, technical, and practical aspects of the human rights and refugee rights domain that I am encountering at NANSEN are new to me. As such, I have begun reflecting more on my own career goals, and my interests in the theoretical vs. the practical and vice versa. I have begun thinking about a career in academia, while also reflecting upon practical human rights careers. I am grateful for the knowledge and experience working with NANSEN is giving me, especially with respect to informing my own career goals.

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. 

Aarna Dixit (NYU Global Liberal Studies) |NANSEN | Brussels, Belgium

For my internship this summer, I will be working with NANSEN in Brussels, Belgium. NANSEN is an association created in 2017 by a group of lawyers and academics experienced in refugee law, human rights, and migration. NANSEN’s objective is to develop and make accessible to all people who need international protection and quality legal aid so that their fundamental rights are effective. To achieve this goal, NANSEN combines technical legal expertise with an interdisciplinary approach to asylum. I chose this organization due to my interest in refugee rights, as developed by my participation in the Liberal Studies Dean’s Honor Circle, and the following Gallatin Global Fellowship in Human Rights (GFHR) Independent Study under Dean Mostov.

As someone who has been learning French throughout high school, and will be studying abroad at NYU Paris next year, I chose Brussels as a location so that I could explore the political scene and develop my language skills. As a central location to the EU and the UN, Brussels is a city of great political advocacy and grassroots organizing. Brussels is also known to be diverse, and I am interested in exploring the diversity in Brussels, and how this does or does not translate to equity and inclusion. I am specifically interested in women’s refugee rights and queer refugee rights, two areas that NANSEN is conducting projects and focusing on. Since NANSEN is a small, grassroots organization, I am hoping I will be able to take more lead on research projects. I hope to learn a lot from the people around me and explore the city’s politics and culture.