Sophia Alicea is the 15th UNA-USA Youth Observer to the United Nations, Junior Fellow with the NATO Veterans Initiative, and human rights advocate working at the intersection of youth engagement, international cooperation, and human security.
As Youth Observer, Sophia works to build bridges between young people and the United Nations, advancing the idea that global diplomacy should not feel distant from the communities it is meant to serve. She is passionate about expanding meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in civic life, international affairs, and decision-making, while helping communities across the United States understand how global issues connect to their everyday experiences.
Sophia studies Diplomacy and International Law at the University of New York Prague and holds certificates in Political Journalism and Creative Writing from the School of The New York Times. She is a former Young Leader in Foreign and Security Policy Fellow with the Geneva Centre for Security Policy in Geneva, Switzerland, where she engaged with international policymakers and conducted research on law and human security.
Her research focuses on governance, conflict prevention, human rights, and international security, with regional expertise spanning the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Sahel. She serves as a Junior Fellow with the NATO Veterans Initiative, researching emerging security challenges, governance, terrorism, and regional stability.
Sophia’s writing has appeared in the Harvard College Law Review, International Policy Digest, Modern Treatise, and The Diplomatic Envoy, covering topics including women’s rights, humanitarian crises, governance, and international security.
