(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNPAID INTERN AT THE U.N., DAVID HYDE, SAYING: “I am announcing my resignation from the United Nations Internship program. I want to make it very clear that the U.N. did not ask me to leave or pressure me to make this decision in any way. It’s my own decision and I choose to resign because I feel it would be too difficult to continue, to focus on my work as an intern at this stage.” (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNPAID INTERN AT THE U.N., DAVID HYDE, SAYING: “After graduating, I began to apply for jobs, but all I could really find was internships. And in every interview, the same questions always came up towards the end: ‘Can you afford to fully fund yourself for the duration of this internship?’ When I answered this with an honest ‘No’, my application was declined. And so, when I applied for this role with the U.N., I did not fully disclose my true financial situation. I said I had enough to support myself when really I didn’t. And I got the job.” (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNPAID INTERN AT THE U.N., DAVID HYDE, SAYING: “The U.N. was clear about their internship policy from the start. No wage or stipend, no transport help, no food allowance, no health assistance. I understood this and in that regard I have to take responsibility for accepting the internship in the first place.” (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNPAID INTERN AT THE U.N., DAVID HYDE, SAYING: “At this stage, I think that the focus needs to move away from me. Interns all over the world need to come together and push for the recognition of our value and our equal rights that we deserve. Because, as the declaration of human rights states so clearly: Everyone, without discrimination has the right to equal pay for equal work. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration. I hope to see the United Nations become a role model for all on the issue of internships in the future. Thank you.”