#ROYAL#在联合国工作,是一种什么样的体验
随着我国国际地位的提升,越来越多的有志青年走向国际舞台。在联合国这样的国际机构里工作究竟是一种怎样的体验?在这些多元文化交融的国际组织里,青年人又能得到哪些锻炼机会?李硕是北京王府学校2010届毕业生,2015年开始在联合国妇女署驻华办公室工作,从他在联合国的成长经历,我们或许可以管中窥豹,可见一斑。

▲2016年3月,李硕陪同王广发校长,在巴黎联合国教科文总部阐述王府的办学理念
“我叫李硕,因为额头比较大,也被王府的各位老师和同学称为“大头”。2010年我从王府学校毕业后,以校长助理的身份,为母校服务一年。2015年,我从北卡罗莱纳大学教堂山分校(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)获得政治学和历史学学士学位后,以联合国本国志愿者的身份,开始在联合国妇女署(UN Women)驻华办公室工作。
作为该办公室消除基于性别暴力团队的一员,我的主要工作是协调“联合国妇女署——北京王府学校创建和谐校园关系青年领导力”项目,帮助王府学校的同学们成为具有性别平等意识、制止性别暴力能力的同伴教育者,同时也积极参与妇女署在华的其他项目,包括推动中国第一部反家暴法的有效实施,加强多部门应对家庭暴力的响应能力、以及消除针对弱势人群的性别歧视。
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在联合国工作,“高大上”的一面
加入联合国中国团队之前,我也和大家一样,认为联合国作为推动世界和平、促进各国合作、推动人权发展、消除不平等的政府间机构,其工作内容肯定以“高大上”的活动为主——高层互访、新闻发布会、政策研讨会、海外参观考察等。工作一年半以来,我非常幸运,有机会参与不少这类工作。在这方面,联合国很信任我们这些初出茅庐、经验不足但是斗志满满的年轻人,让我们不断试错,不断创新。
海外参观考察
2016年9月,我有幸担任“多部门反家暴学习访问团”的随团翻译,与最高人民法院、公安部和全国妇联的领导和同事一同出访英国伦敦,学习英国立法、司法、执法和公共服务等各部门在消除家暴方面共同协作的经验,帮助中国更好地实施2015年底颁布、2016年三月正式实施的反家暴法。

与黄晓明同台
2016年11月,国际巨星黄晓明先生成为联合国艾滋病规划署的亲善大使。作为联合国驻华系统青年人的代表,我主持了为黄晓明颁发亲善大使证书的仪式。第一次主持这么高级别的活动,内心的确有些紧张,当时汗如雨下。但一见到“晓明哥”,我的尴尬症就化解了——他微笑着递给我一张纸巾,亲自帮我擦了汗。可想而知,当天的活动非常成功。

▲2016年11月,为黄晓明颁发联合国艾滋病规划署亲善大使证书
站上UNESCO总部的讲台
大家都知道,在王广发校长的支持下,北京王府学校长期以来一直致力于支持包括联合国妇女署、联合国教科文组织(UNESCO)等多个联合国机构的工作。2016年3月,作为翻译和校友代表,我陪着“发哥”站上了UNESCO巴黎总部的讲台,在国际移动教学大会上,阐述王府学校为推动教育平等所做的努力,表达王府学校支持联合国推动南南合作、性别平等和教育平等的决心。

▲2016年12月,主持2016年联合国志愿者日主题活动
协调高层访问
2016年4月,联合国秘书长青年特使艾哈迈德·欣达维(AhmadAlhendawi)访华,作为联合国中国青年工作组的一员,我和联合国驻华其他机构的小伙伴一同设计、协调特使访华的行程安排,确保特使有足够多的机会和来自中国各地的青年朋友交流,了解中国人的需求,鼓励更多中国青少年参与国际事务。

▲2015年5月13日,王广发校长携王府学子李硕在美国参加中美关系研讨会
这些“高大上”的国际交流活动培养了我的自信心,帮助我锻炼了统筹、协调和临场应变能力,也让我有机会与来自全球各地、为推动联合国2030可持续发展目标不断努力的各位前辈共事、交流和学习。
最重要的是,这些活动让我意识到,对于一个联合国工作人员来说,杰出的多语言工作能力是必不可少的专业技能。我在王府学校就读和工作期间,曾长期为“发哥”等校领导担任同声传译,这段经历培养了我在中英双语之间切换的能力。但出访巴黎时,我亲历了法语不灵光所带来的尴尬。在乘坐出租时,我只能通过蹦出简单的“左”(Gauche)、“右”(Droite)等法语单词给司机指路,更不用提在会上,面对来自法语国家、英语能力一般的同事时,相视一笑却无言的窘迫。现在我正在积极学习法语和俄语,希望多掌握几门联合国官方语言,更好地参与跨国、跨文化交流的工作。
在联合国工作,“接地气”的一面
作为跨政府机构,在促进各国、各地区间对话、推动合作之余,联合国也在积极帮助各国政府实施高效、平等、平权、全纳的政治、经济和文化政策。作为2011年新设立的联合国机构,联合国促进性别平等及女性赋权实体(又称“联合国妇女署”)在中国开展着很多基层试点项目,涵盖消除性别暴力、鼓励女性参政、促进女性经济赋权、帮助女性应对气候变化的影响等多个议题。我的工作也围绕着这些基层项目展开。
作为负责青年项目的官员,我的日常工作是与王府学校和北京师范大学合作,推动“青年领导力”项目在王府校园内的开展,确保项目在活动开展和财务管理上的质量及合规,从而使得项目能够切实、有效地提升王府师生在性别议题上的知识和倡导能力,改变他们对性别议题的印象,让他们有能力预防校园暴力的产生。
在各项目伙伴的大力支持下,“青年领导力项目”通过开展性别平等培训和社交媒体倡导活动,在2015年到2016年间成功培养了逾110名王府学校高中部的男生和女生成为同伴教育者。这些同伴教育者中的佼佼者正在积极扮演着小老师的角色,为初中部的同学开展性别意识的培训。同时,他们也在微信、微博和各类校内活动上积极发声,倡导更多的同龄人关注各性别群体所面临的不同挑战。
2016年12月4日,王府学校的同学们积极参与橙色校园活动,发表演讲,为消除性别暴力,倡导性别平等,发出自己的呼声。

▲2016年12月,联合国妇女署、北京王府学校及北京师范大学共同开展了“橙色校园——反暴力十六日行动”
和“青年领导力”项目一样,妇女署的每个基层项目,都需要项目官员在资源整合、项目立项、合作方甄选、项目执行等各方面贡献自己的专业技能和动员能力。我个人的体会是,在联合国体系内做好项目管理的工作,首先需要具备严密的逻辑,在项目的起草、审批和执行过程中,确保目标设置的合理性和项目实施方法的可行性。其次,项目官员需要具有强大的沟通统筹能力,能够将来自不同领域、不同行业、不同年龄层的相关合作伙伴统一起来,确保伙伴们各司其职。
同时,项目官员也需要有强烈的求知欲望,不断地学习新的知识和高效的管理方法。在这方面,联合国妇女署、联合国志愿人员组织也给予了我充分的学习机会。我曾三次赴泰国曼谷,参与联合国各机构亚太区办公室组织的有关消除医疗行业性别歧视、青少年同伴教育以及全面性教育等领域的培训。在努力学习之余,也体会了东南亚地区独特的文化,与来自该地区的同事交流了工作经验。
联合国妇女署中国办公室在国别主任汤竹丽女士(Ms. Julia Broussard)的带领下,也经常开展内部的管理培训和经验交流。虽然我们办公室是一个13人的小团队,但我们在不断的脑力和知识的切磋中,以及在项目上的合作中,形成了强大的团队凝聚力,大家就像一个大家庭一样,在工作上互帮互助,在生活上相互关心。我所在的消除性别暴力团队,在国别项目协调员郭瑞香女士的领导下,每天都会进行日常的头脑风暴,整个团队为实现项目各项目标,集思广益,共同努力。
最重要的是,项目官员需要对其工作领域有极大的兴趣和热情。毕竟,兴趣是一个人最好的老师。小时候,因为父母工作的缘故,我曾经在北京、南京、徐州、济南、深圳等各个城市生活、就读和游历。我切实地体会到,在我所到的每一个城市,男女之间的不平等都有着或明显或隐蔽的体现。在读书的过程中,我亲眼见到同学间因为传统性别观念所导致的矛盾、分歧、歧视和欺凌,在初中阶段,也曾亲历过校园欺凌,深知其对青少年成长可能造成的危害。这些都促使着我在大学阶段选择社会科学类的专业,从政治学、历史学、人类学和社会学的视角出发,学习与消除歧视和消除暴力相关的课程。这些经历也让我很快地融入了妇女署的工作氛围,在面对弱势群体时,更具有同理心。
联合国给予我的机会
作为联合国的全职志愿工作人员,我在联合国学到了很多有关项目管理和性别平等的知识,也体会到了作为联合国官员、青年人代表和一名普通的全球公民,我身上肩负的使命——倡导平等,消除暴力,为实现人类的和平而努力。
我希望在“青年领导力”项目结项后,有机会继续参与联合国妇女署的相关工作。同时,参与“多部门联动反家暴”项目执行的经历,让我积攒了在法律和政策领域的知识,也鞭策着我在这一领域继续深造。在不远的将来,我计划回到校园,以研究生的身份,专攻法律、社会政策和国际关系,以更专业的知识和素养,帮助母校的发展,支持联合国的工作,回馈曾经帮助过我的每一个人。
▉ 想关注联合国的工作,或者加入我们吗?▉
联合国妇女署:
联合国促进两性平等和妇女赋权实体(又称联合国妇女署)是成立于2011年的联合国机构,其目标在于整合联合国在促进性别平等和妇女赋权领域的资源,提高其工作效率。妇女署驻华办事处长期以来以促进妇女发展和维护妇女权益作为工作重点,主要涉及消除针对妇女的暴力、提高妇女的领导力和决策参与、经济上赋权于女性、国家计划和预算以及应对气候变化对女性的影响等领域。
联合国志愿人员组织:
联合国志愿人员组织(UNV),由1970年联合国大会通过决议组建,总部现在德国波恩。UNV是联合国系统内一个独特的机构,从事和管理与国际志愿者事业相关的各类事务。该组织从属于联合国开发计划署(UNDP),是联合国系统内最大的直接向发展中国家输送各种行业高、中级专业技术志愿人员的组织。
A BRS Alumnus Reflects on his Experience Working for the United Nations
My name is Henry Li, a 2010 graduate of Beijing Royal School. After graduation, I worked in the school for one year as assistant and interpreter to Mr. Wang Guangfa, the school’s principal. In 2015, I received my bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, returned to China and started working for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Recruited as a national United Nations volunteer, I have been serving as the social media and peer education program associate for the UN Women–BRS Peer Leadership for Healthy Relationship Program.
A career in the UN, in many people’s minds, means high-end conferences and hobnobbing with expensively-dressed diplomats and other VIPS. Indeed, I have had many opportunities to participate in and organize such events. In April 2016, as a member of the UN Sub-Group on Youth, I worked with colleagues from many other agencies–UNICEF, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNDP, etc–to make arrangements for the official visit of Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Youth. In September, I served as the interpreter for an Inter-agency study tour to London, through which officials from China’s Supreme People’s Court, Ministry of Public Safety and the All China Women’s Federation learned UK’s best practices on tackling domestic violence. In March, I travelled with Mr. Wang Guangfa to the UNESCO Headquarters to attend the 2016 Mobile Learning Week. Together, Mr. Wang and I presented BRS’s experiences collaborating with the United Nations on gender equality, education and South-South collaboration.
While involvement with high-end U.N. events has had its glamorous side, its real value lies in the education provided to a young professional like myself. Proving to my supervisor and colleagues that the trust they put in me was deserved led me to develop the planning and organizational skills to be an effective coordinator. Working in a fast-paced, demanding environment has made me both efficient and results-oriented. More importantly, my success in the face of emergencies has been empowering, making me feel capable of tackling unexpected and stressful situations with confidence and composure. My U.N. experience has also made me aware of the value of being multi-lingual. Being only bilingual–fluent in English and Chinese–is far from enough. When giving directions to a taxi driver in Paris, I was ashamed to be only able to stammer gauche and droite(left and right). An even greater embarrassment came when I was greeted in French by a colleague who spoke virtually no English – we could only smile at each other, instead of having a real conversation. Currently, I am working hard to improve my proficiency in both French and Russian– hoping that one day I will be as fluent in those two languages as I am today in English.
Putting the pomp and circumstances aside, working as a program associate in the United Nations definitely has its nitty-gritty side. My “day job” is to ensure that the BRS Peer Leadership Program is executed smoothly and that it meets its quarterly and annual goals. I work closely with colleagues from Beijing Normal University–the project’s implementing partner–and Beijing Royal School–the beneficiary of the project–to organize trainings on promoting gender equality and ending gender-based violence for high-school students aged 13 – 18. From 2015 to 2016, the project trained 110 peer educators from the senior high-school division, 15 of whom have in turn become full-fledged instructors who have already conducted training for 60 junior high students. I work closely with these peer educators to make sure they have the means to advocate for gender equality via social media and trough on-campus events.
The nitty-gritty aspects of my job have also required me to develop grit and the ability to act tactically. Professionally, the job hays required me to be logical and to prioritize, since I need to translate sophisticated and often “abstract” objectives and concepts into concrete actions and results that are delivered on time. The most important qualities required in a professional program coordinator at any international organization, however, are none of the above. Instead, that most important requirement is captured by the age-old advice “love your job”and“have passion for whatever you do”. Only when your interests coincide with your job duties as mine do, can you be fully committed professionally.
Having lived and travelled to many different places in China and around the world, I have seen firsthand the traumas suffered when there is an imbalance in power between men and women. These include opportunities women are barred from by traditional gender stereotypes, and the violence done to gender minority groups simply because of their sexual affiliation or orientation. These experiences awoke my passion to fight for a just and equal world where no such inequality, stereotyping or scapegoating exist, and led me into this career of fighting for gender-equality and against gender-based violence.
My journey within the United Nations has exposed me to different cultures, nations, and ideas, all of which have contributed to my growth as a professional and a person. I have developed the ability to collaborate with a multi-cultural team, work efficiently to deliver results in a timely manner, etc. My UN experience has also helped me to chart out a career path. In 2017, I plan to return to university and begin a graduate program in law, public policy or International relations. In the near future, I hope to become a legal professional endowed with the skills and powered by the passion to advocate for a world free from gender-based violence and gender-based discrimination.
(文|李硕 图片提供|李硕 编辑|饶茹)


