Safina Saidibroimova, a 2026 graduate of the MAHRS  Programme, is doing her internship at Manushya Foundation thanks to the interregional exchange between GC hubs MAHRS and APMA, where she spent her mobility semester last year. Safina secured the prestigious Global Campus Internship Grant to pursue her internship at this organisation. Now, as the organization celebrates its landmark victory in Thailand’s first environmental class action lawsuit against Akara Resources’ Chatree Gold Mine, Safina’s contributions underscore the power of global youth networks in advancing corporate accountability.

More information about her internship experience:

“I am grateful to Global Campus Central Asia and the Global Campus Internship Award for making it possible for me to engage directly with real human rights work. When I applied for an internship at Manushya, I could not have imagined how hands-on it would be, or how vividly the concepts I learned in the classroom at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, would come to life. Manushya has been an exceptional place to carry out this internship in human rights. As the name suggests, meaning human being in Sanskrit, the organization reflects a strong commitment to people. It is a decolonial, intersectional feminist organization that believes in the power of communities, with all its work grounded in shifting power back to them. Working in an environment where these values are not only discussed but practiced daily has been both engaging and insightful. Being part of this NGO has offered exposure to real work with communities directly affected by human rights issues. One of the most notable experiences was being part of the Justice for Prichit Campaign, including witnessing the first-ever environmental class action lawsuit in Thailand. This case raises an essential question of whether Thailand prioritizes people over profit, and marks an important moment for corporate accountability. At the same time, the internship has deepened my understanding of international accountability mechanisms through the UPR Workshop organized by the Manushya Foundation, held as Thailand undergoes its fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Participation in UPR workshops also created opportunities to witness the engagement of a wide range of human rights defenders, especially the experts of the issues—members of affected communities, many of whom have been advocating for change for years. This made it possible for me to better understand both the challenges and the collective efforts behind human rights work. This experience highlights the value of the Global Campus Internship Award in bridging academic learning with practical engagement, while organizations like Manushya provide the space where this knowledge can be meaningfully applied.”

Read more about the case here:

https://www.manushyafoundation.org/post/accountability-wins-over-impunity-phichit-villagers-victorious-in-decade-long-legal-struggle-agains