A 22-year-old international law student, Sandra van Beest from Nijmegen, is due to address the United Nations in New York on Monday on children’s rights. Van Beest was appointed UN children’s representative in 2006.

Van Beest told the Volkskrant that the job is not just an honorary position but hard work and that despite her young age, she has to negotiate with experienced diplomats. She is lobbying hard for a draft text on the rights of youngsters when it comes to sexuality, health and education.