Notre Dame LL.M. Graduates Victoria Mendoza Ruiz ‘25 LL.M. and Mbonisi (Bo) ‘25 LL.M. Secure Prestigious UN Internships – University of Notre Dame

Report on Notre Dame Law School LL.M. Graduates’ Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Graduates from the Notre Dame Law School LL.M. Class of 2025 have secured prominent international legal placements, directly contributing to the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Victoria Mendoza Ruiz: Advancing Human Rights and SDG 16

Victoria Mendoza Ruiz, a lawyer from Mexico, will undertake an internship at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. Her role within the Treaty Bodies Division is pivotal to strengthening global human rights frameworks.

• Placement: Legal Intern, Treaty Bodies Division, OHCHR.
• Contribution to SDGs:
  1. SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Her work in legal research and analysis for UN treaty bodies directly supports the promotion of the rule of law at the international level and ensures accountability mechanisms for human rights are robust.
  2. SDG 5 (Gender Equality) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By assisting bodies that monitor compliance with human rights treaties, her work will contribute to the enforcement of provisions aimed at eliminating discrimination and promoting equality for all persons.

Mbonisi (Bo): Counter-Terrorism and the Protection of Fundamental Freedoms

Mbonisi (Bo), an attorney from Zimbabwe, will intern with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) in New York. His focus will be on the intersection of counter-terrorism measures and human rights law.

• Placement: Intern, UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).
• Contribution to SDGs:
  1. SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): This placement directly aligns with SDG target 16.a to strengthen institutions to combat terrorism. His research into the use of counter-terrorism legislation against government critics also supports SDG target 16.10, which aims to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.

Broader Impact of the LL.M. Class of 2025 on Global Goals

Other graduates from the program are also advancing key SDGs through their respective placements, demonstrating a collective commitment to building a more just, peaceful, and equitable world.

• Salina Kafle (Nepal): Placement at UN Women directly supports the core mission of SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by contributing to policy and programs that empower women and girls globally.
• Maria Paula Roncancio (Colombia): Her role at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights reinforces regional justice mechanisms, a critical component for achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
• Rim Joukhadar (Lebanon) and Anaëlle Trébulle-Famy (France): Their positions at the Permanent Mission of Lebanon and the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See, respectively, contribute to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by facilitating international cooperation and diplomacy at the United Nations.

The placements of the Notre Dame Law School LL.M. Class of 2025 underscore a significant contribution to the global effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in fostering peace, ensuring justice, promoting gender equality, and strengthening international partnerships.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues and activities that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The core themes of human rights, international justice, peace, gender equality, and education for global citizenship are prominent throughout the text.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This is the most central SDG in the article. The work of the graduates at various UN bodies and international courts directly contributes to building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. The article mentions internships with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, all of which are key institutions for promoting the rule of law and human rights globally.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article explicitly mentions a graduate, Salina Kafle from Nepal, securing a placement at “UN Women at the United Nations in New York.” This directly links the educational outcomes described in the article to the global effort to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article is fundamentally about the success of an educational program, the Notre Dame Law School’s LL.M. in International Human Rights Law. It showcases how specialized legal education empowers individuals to “advance human rights, human dignity, justice, and equality around the world,” aligning with the goal of providing inclusive and equitable quality education that promotes sustainable development.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The internships represent a partnership between an academic institution (Notre Dame Law School) and international organizations (the United Nations and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights). This collaboration to share knowledge and provide practical experience for students contributes to strengthening the global partnership for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities and roles described, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):

   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. This is addressed by Victoria Mendoza Ruiz’s work with the OHCHR Treaty Bodies, which uphold international human rights law, and Maria Paula Roncancio’s placement at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, a key institution for access to justice in the Americas.
   • Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity… to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime. Mbonisi (Bo)’s internship with the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), which involves “legal and research efforts related to counter-terrorism and human rights,” directly supports this target.
   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. Bo’s interest in “how the UN holds state governments accountable for using counter-terrorism legislation against government critics” relates directly to the protection of fundamental freedoms.

2. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):

   • Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels. Salina Kafle’s work at UN Women, an entity dedicated to this mission, directly contributes to achieving this target.

3. Under SDG 4 (Quality Education):

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for… human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, [and] global citizenship. The article highlights that the LL.M. program provides students with the “knowledge I have acquired” and “skills l have acquired academically and practically” to work in fields that directly promote these values.

4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge [and] expertise. The internship program itself is a multi-stakeholder partnership between Notre Dame Law School and the United Nations, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and expertise.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not provide quantitative data but implies several qualitative indicators for measuring progress:

• For Target 16.3 (Rule of Law and Access to Justice): The active functioning of international human rights bodies is an implied indicator. The article shows these bodies are operational by accepting legal interns like Victoria Mendoza Ruiz to assist with “legal research and analysis,” demonstrating their ongoing work to uphold the rule of law.
• For Target 16.a (Strengthening Institutions): The existence of “UN monitoring mechanisms” that Bo will be exposed to is an implied indicator of international cooperation. The fact that these mechanisms are in place to hold governments accountable shows progress in strengthening global institutions to combat terrorism while upholding human rights.
• For Target 4.7 (Education for Sustainable Development): The successful placement of graduates in high-impact roles related to human rights and justice serves as a powerful qualitative indicator. The article lists multiple graduates from diverse countries (Mexico, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Nepal, France, Colombia) securing “prestigious legal placements,” indicating the effectiveness of the educational program in producing skilled professionals who can promote sustainable development.
• For Target 5.c (Policies for Gender Equality): The placement of a graduate at UN Women is an implied indicator of institutional capacity and focus on gender equality. It shows that dedicated international bodies are actively working and recruiting talent to advance policies and legislation for women’s empowerment.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: law.nd.edu