English (Advanced) - Advance English Lessons - Five

Katia talks about her experience working as an intern in the field of international law.

Todd: So Katia, you mentioned that you were doing an internship in Argentina. What kind of internship was it?

Katia: It was a legal internship. I assisted lawyers with their cases and supported them in various tasks related to the legal field.

Todd: I see. And which area of law were you working in?

Katia: My focus was on human rights—specifically within the Inter-American system. We dealt with cases involving human rights violations across the American continent.

Todd: What kinds of cases typically come up in the field of human rights?

Katia: Unfortunately, there are many types. For example, cases related to the military dictatorships of the 1970s—particularly enforced disappearances. Many families are still seeking justice and clarity about what happened to their loved ones. Cases like these are often brought before the Inter-American Commission or the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Todd: Are there other kinds of cases you worked on?

Katia: Yes, quite a few. Some involve the misuse of military justice systems, where civilians are wrongly tried under military courts—which shouldn’t happen. Others deal with extrajudicial killings, violations of freedom of speech, and various other human rights abuses that continue to occur in Latin America.

Todd: So if someone experiences a human rights violation, how do they get in touch with a lawyer or an organization like yours? How does that process work?

Katia: Well, I’m not a lawyer yet, but in general, before approaching an NGO like ours, individuals must first seek justice within their own country. They start by working with local lawyers, courts, and judges. If they exhaust all national options and still don’t receive justice, they can then reach out to international organizations or NGOs, who may help bring the case before the Inter-American Commission or Court.

Todd: I assume that most people who bring these cases don’t have the financial means to hire lawyers, right? Are these services offered for free?

Katia: Yes, exactly. Many people have already spent everything trying to pursue justice within their own systems, or they simply don’t have the resources. That’s why NGOs like the one I worked for provide legal assistance free of charge, helping people fight for justice when they otherwise couldn’t afford it.

Todd: That’s wonderful. Hopefully everyone eventually receives the justice they deserve.

Katia: I hope so too.