A social media influencer checked in at the United Nations headquarters to create a persona, prompting officials from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to suggest that false behaviors should be addressed.
The trend of influencers has reached the United Nations? Recently, numerous social media influencers have been spotted checking in at the UN headquarters, presenting themselves as attendees of meetings or speakers, thereby creating a false elite persona. This phenomenon has sparked public backlash and criticism, and has also inadvertently affected some young individuals who have entered the UN through legitimate channels for internships or jobs.
On December 6, Marco Suazo, the Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research’s New York Office, told The Paper that the UN has a dedicated visitor office that provides professional guided tours for tourists who purchase tickets in advance. Additionally, the UN hosts many open meetings organized by various UN agencies, member states, and other relevant organizations, which allow photography, videography, and media activities. The UN Institute for Training and Research’s New York Office cannot control the routine photography behaviors of visitors or meeting participants.
According to media reports, the UN’s official website has a reservation portal for visits, with adult tickets priced at $26, students over 13 years old paying $18 with a student ID, children aged 5-12 paying $15, and seniors over 60 paying $18. Multilingual guided services are also available on-site. Reservations are already booked until January 2025.
“Respect and support should be given to young talents who enter the UN through legitimate channels, while also strengthening the crackdown and regulation of fraudulent behaviors to maintain the UN’s image and reputation,” Marco Suazo stated.
So, what skills are required to intern or work at the UN? What are the legitimate channels? A representative from the China Foreign Cultural Exchange Center’s “High-Level Talent Training Innovation Practice Project,” which serves the UN training program, told The Paper that solid language skills and comprehensive qualities are essential for entering the UN for internships and positions. Among the six official working languages of the UN (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, and Chinese), English and French are particularly important. In addition to language proficiency, candidates need to possess communication skills, management abilities, and certain competencies required for international organizations and cross-cultural work, such as partnership, teamwork, and collaboration.
Applying for internships is a common pathway, requiring candidates to be in their senior undergraduate year or hold a master’s degree or higher, along with certain language skills and professional qualities. The United Nations Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is specifically designed for young talents aged 18-32, offering the opportunity to become reserve talents for the UN through rigorous written exams and interviews. Furthermore, various UN agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme, also recruit separately, with job postings available on their official websites and social media channels.
