Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)
Logo
Map indicating worldwide UNPO membership (click to enlarge and for legend). Map indicating worldwide UNPO membership (click to enlarge and for legend).
Headquarters		The Hague, Netherlands
Membership		46 groups
Leaders
•	General Secretary	Marino Busdachin (since 2003)
•	Treasurer	Jeroen Zandberg (since December 2012)
•	President	Nasser Boladai (since July 2015)
•	Vice-President	Abdirahman Mahdi (since July 2015)
Establishment		February 11, 1991
Website http://www.unpo.org/

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), formed on the 11 February 1991 in The Hague, Netherlands, is an international pro-democracy organization. Its purpose is to facilitate the voices of unrepresented and marginalised nations and peoples worldwide. Technically, it is not a non-governmental organization (NGO) as some of its members are governments or government agencies of unrecognized states.

Its members consist of indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognised or occupied territories. The organization trains groups in how to advocate their causes effectively. Some former members, such as Armenia, East Timor, Estonia, Latvia, Georgia, and Palau, have gained full independence and joined the United Nations.

History

UNPO was conceived in the 1980s by leaders of self-determination movements, Linnart Mäll of the Congress of Estonia, Erkin Alptekin, of East Turkestan, and Lodi Gyari of Tibet, together with Michael van Walt van Praag, long the international law adviser of the 14th Dalai Lama. The founders were representatives of national movements of Estonia, Latvia, Tibet, Crimean Tatars, Armenia, Georgia, Tatarstan, East Turkestan, East Timor, Australian Aboriginals, The Cordillera, the Greek Minority in Albania, Kurdistan, Palau, Taiwan, and West Papua. In 1991, UNPO chose The Hague in the Netherlands for its founding headquarters because the city aimed to become the International City of Peace and Justice and was also host to international institutions such as the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court. UNPO has an advocacy office in Brussels, representation in Geneva and a network of associates and consultants based around the world. Funding comes from member contributions and donations from individuals and foundations. A key UNPO goal was to replicate the success of the 14th Dalai Lama's non-violent message; they often mentioned his name in the early years of the organization, included photos of him visiting UNPO in their publications and printed supporting statements he made for the organization.

To this end, UNPO trains its members in international law, international organizations, diplomacy, and public relations. UNPO has built its credibility by being the first organization to release on-ground information from remote areas, typically press releases from groups like MOSOP. As with Amnesty International, its techniques include issuing action alerts and being an objective source of information.

Aims

UNPO’s vision is to affirm democracy as a fundamental human right, implement human, civil and political rights worldwide, uphold the universal right to autonomy and self-determination and further federalism. It encourages nonviolent methodologies to reach peaceful solutions to conflicts and oppression. UNPO supports members in getting their human and cultural rights respected and in preserving their environments. The organization provides a forum for members to network and assists them in participating at an international level.

Although UNPO members often have different goals, they have one thing in common: they are generally not represented diplomatically (or only with a minor status, such as observer) in major international institutions, such as the United Nations. As a result, their ability to have their concerns addressed by the global bodies mandated to protect human rights and address conflict is limited.

UNPO is dedicated to the five principles enshrined in its Covenant:

• The equal right to self-determination;
• Adherence to the internationally accepted human rights standards as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments;
• Adherence to the principles of democratic pluralism and rejection of totalitarianism and religious intolerance;
• Promotion of non-violence and the rejection of terrorism as an instrument of policy; and
• Protection of the natural environment.

All members are required to sign and abide by the UNPO Covenant. UNPO members are required to be nonviolent.

It should be noted that contrary to popular perception, self‐determination does not necessarily imply secession, separate nationhood, or even autonomy. It simply refers to the right of all peoples to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. The exercise of this right can result in a variety of outcomes, ranging from political independence to full integration within an existing state.

Members

The following listed as members by the UNPO.

Original members are listed with pink background and in bold.

Member	Date Joined	Date Withdrew	Represented by
Abkhazia	6 August 1991		Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia
Aceh	15 July 2014		Aceh-Sumatra National Liberation Front
Afrikaner	15 May 2008		Freedom Front Plus
Ahwazi (Arabistan)	14 November 2003		Democratic Solidarity Party of Al-Ahwaz
Amazigh (Berberia)	28 November 2014		World Amazigh Congress
Assyria	6 August 1991		Assyrian Universal Alliance
Barotseland	23 November 2013
Brittany	1 July 2015		Kelc’h An Dael
Batwaland	17 January 1993		Community of Indigenous Peoples of Rwanda
Chin	15 July 2001		Chin National Front
Chittagong Hill Tracts	6 August 1991		United People's Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (JSS)
Circassia	16 April 1994		International Circassian Association
Cordillera (Igorot)	11 February 1991		Cordillera Peoples' Alliance
Crimean Tatars	11 February 1991		Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People
Degar-Montagnards	14 November 2003		Montagnard Foundation, Inc.
District of Columbia	9 November 2015
East Balochistan	1 March 2008		Balochistan National Party
East Turkestan	11 February 1991		World Uyghur Congress
Gilgit–Baltistan (Balawaristan)	20 September 2008		Gilgit–Baltistan Democratic Alliance
Haratin	18 September 2011		Initiative de Résurgence du Mouvement Abolitionniste en Mauritanie (IRA)
Hmong	2 February 2007		Hmong ChaoFa Federated State
Hungarians in Transylvania	30 July 1994		Hungarians in Romania
Inner Mongolia	2 February 2007		Inner Mongolian People's Party
Iranian Kurdistan	2 February 2007		Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
Iraqi Kurdistan	11 February 1991		Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Iraqi Turkmen (Turkmenali)	6 August 1991		Dr. Muzaffer Arslan
Khmer Krom	15 July 2001		Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation
Kosova	6 August 1991		Democratic League of Kosova
Lezghistan	7 July 2012		Federal Lezgian National and Cultural Autonomy
Mapuche	19 January 1993		Mapuche Inter-Regional Council
Moro	26 September 2010	28 November 2014	Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Nagaland	19 January 1993		National Socialist Council of Nagaland
Ogaden	6 February 2010		Ogaden National Liberation Front
Ogoni	19 January 1993		Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People
Oromia	19 December 2004		Oromo Liberation Front
Rehoboth	2 February 2007		Captains Council
Savoy	15 July 2014		The Government of the State of Savoy
Sindh	19 January 2002		World Sindhi Institute
Somaliland	19 December 2004		Government of Somaliland
South Moluccas	6 August 1991		Government in Exile of the Republic of South Moluccas
Southern Azerbaijan	2 February 2007		Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement
Southern Cameroons	19 December 2004	28 November 2014
Sulu	28 November 2014		Sulu Foundation of Nine Ethnic Tribes
Taiwan	11 February 1991		Taiwan Foundation for Democracy
Talysh-Mughan	15 July 2014		The National Talysh Movement
Tibet	11 February 1991		Central Tibetan Administration
Trieste	28 November 2014		TRIEST NGO
West Balochistan	26 June 2005		Balochistan People's Party
West Papua	23 November 2013		National Government of the Republic of West Papua
Aboriginals of Australia	11 February 1991	7 July 2012	National Committee to Defend Black Rights
Dene	19 December 2004	9 October 2009	Buffalo River Dene Nation
Burma	15 May 2008	13 February 2010	National Council of the Union of Burma
Buryatia	3 February 1996	13 February 2010	All-Buryat Association for the Development of Culture
Greek Minority in Albania	11 February 1991	7 July 2012	Democratic Union of the Greek Ethnic Minority in Albania
Cabinda	17 April 1997	18 September 2011
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria	6 August 1991	10 September 2010
Inkeri	17 January 1993	9 October 2009
Kalahui Hawai'i	3 August 1993	7 July 2012	Ka Lahui Hawaii
Karenni State	19 January 1993 t	7 July 2012	Karenni National Progressive Party
Khalistan	24 January 1993	4 August 1993	(suspension made permanent 22 January 1995)
Komi	17 January 1993	9 October 2009
Maasai	19 December 2004	7 July 2012	Maasai Women for Education and Economic Development
Mari	6 August 1991	9 October 2009
Mon	3 February 1996	7 July 2012	Mon Unity League
Nahua del Alto Balsas	19 December 2004	20 September 2008
Scania	19 January 1993	18 September 2011
Shan	17 April 1997	6 February 2010
Tsimshian	2 February 2007	18 September 2011
Tuva Republic	3 February 1996	13 February 2010
West Papua	11 February 1991	20 September 2008
Aceh	6 August 1991	1 March 2008	Reached autonomy agreement with Indonesia in 2005, but rejoined 15 July 2014
Albanians in Macedonia	16 April 1994	1 March 2008	Reached agreement on wider rights with Macedonia in 2001
Armenia	11 February 1991	2 March 1992	Became member of the UN in 1992
Bashkortostan	3 February 1996	30 June 1998
Bougainville	6 August 1991	1 March 2008	Reached autonomy agreement with Papua New Guinea in 2000
Chuvash	17 January 1993	1 March 2008
Estonia	11 February 1991	17 August 1991	Became member of the UN in 1991
Gagauzia	16 April 1994	1 December 2007	Reached autonomy agreement with Moldova in 1994
Georgia	11 February 1991	31 July 1992	Became member of the UN in 1991
Ingushetia	30 July 1994	1 March 2008
Kumyk	17 April 1997	1 March 2008
Lakotah Nation	30 July 1994	1 December 2007	Followed by the declaration of the Republic of Lakotah
Latvia	11 February 1991	17 August 1991	Became member of the UN in 1991
Maohi	30 July 1994	1 December 2007
Nuxalk	23 September 1998	1 March 2008
Palau	11 February 1991	15 December 1994	Became member of the UN in 1994
Rusyn	23 September 1998	1 December 2007
Sakha	3 August 1993	30 June 1998
Talysh	26 June 2005	1 March 2008	Rejoined 15 July 2014
Tatarstan	11 February 1991	1 March 2008
Tamil Eelam	11 February 1991	19 May 2009	Sri Lankan victory in the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009
Timor-Leste	17 January 1993	27 September 2002	Became member of the UN in 2002

Leadership

Secretaries General

Name	Term
Michael van Walt van Praag ( Netherlands)	1991–1998
Tsering Jampa ( Tibet)	1997–1998
Helen S. Corbett ( Australian Aboriginals)	1998–1999
Erkin Alptekin ( Uyghurs)	1999–2003
Marino Busdachin ( Italy)	2003–present

Financial Director/Treasurer

• Marco Perduca – (Italy) 2008  – 2012
• Jeroen Zandberg – (The Netherlands) 2012–present

Executive Director

• Karl Habsburg-Lothringen – (Austria) 19 January – 31 December 2002

Chairmen of the General Assembly

• Linnart Mäll - (Estonia) 1991–1993
• Erkin Alptekin - (Uyghurs) 1993–1997
• Seif Sharif Hamad - (Zanzibar) 1997–2001
• John J. Nimrod - (Assyrians) 2001–2005
• Göran Hansson - (Scania) 2005–2006

Presidents

• Ledum Mitee - (Ogoni) 2006–2010
• Ngawang Choephel Drakmargyapon – Since 2010

See also

• Federal Union of European Nationalities
• Micronations
• United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
• Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples
• List of national liberation movements recognized by intergovernmental organizations
• European Free Alliance

External links

• UNPO Website
• UNPO Regional News Site