This month marks the first for a Seventh-day Adventist internship program at the United Nations Commission for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland.

Juan Otoniel Perla, an international communication and French studies graduate of Andrews University, will serve in Geneva for the next seven to 10 months as U.N. liaison officer.

“It’s vital for the church to have permanent representation to the United Nations in Geneva,” says Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations Liaison director for the Adventist Church. “We need to speak out on issues at the Commission on Human Rights, to liaise with the World Health Organization and UNAIDS, and to influence the many permanent missions of the 191 nations that are based in Geneva.” Gallagher explains that Geneva is the hub for many groups such as the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, and the International Labor Organization.

“You can’t do anything without having a continuous presence ... Otherwise you don’t have the opportunity to make a difference, and don’t have the opportunity to really influence issues,” Gallagher adds.

The U.N. Commission on Human Rights office in New York currently has two interns representing the Adventist Church.