Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization


The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization is an international membership organization established to facilitate the voices of unrepresented and marginalised nations and peoples worldwide. It was formed on 11 February 1991 in The Hague, Netherlands. Its members consist of indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognised or occupied territories. UNPO works to develop the understanding of and respect for the right to self-determination, provides advice and support related to questions of international recognition and political autonomy, trains groups on how to advocate for their causes effectively, and directly advocates for an international response to human rights violations perpetrated against UNPO member groups. 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 of 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. A key UNPO goal was, and remains, to replicate the success of the 14th Dalai Lama's and the Tibetan people's non-violent message in the face of oppression and occupation.
UNPO chose for its founding headquarters in 1991 The Hague in the Netherlands because the city aimed at becoming the International City of Peace and Justice and hosts international courts like the ICJ and ICC. A Foundation was established in the Netherlands to provide secretarial support to the UNPO General Assembly and to carryout research and educational activities related to unrepresented peoples worldwide. The Foundation maintains a permanent presence before the European Union, United States and United Nations. It is funded by a combination of member contributions, donations from individuals and project-based grants from foundations.

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

Members

The following are listed as members by the UNPO.
Original members are listed with pink background and in bold.
MemberDate joinedRepresented by
Abkhazians6 8 1991Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia
Aceh11 2 1991Aceh-Sumatra National Liberation Front
Afrikaners15 5 2008Freedom Front Plus
Ahwazi14 11 2003Democratic Solidarity Party of Ahwaz
Ambazonians28 3 2018Ambazonia Governing Council
Assyrians6 8 1991Assyrian Universal Alliance
Balochistanis1 3 2008Balochistan National Party
Barotseland23 11 2013Barotse National Freedom Alliance
Bellah people6 6 2017Malian Association for the Preservation of Bellah Culture
Brittany8 6 2015Kelc’h An Dael
Catalonians14 12 2018Assemblea Nacional Catalana
Chittagong Hill Tracts6 8 1991Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti
District of Columbia 4 12 2015D.C. Statehood Congressional Delegation
Crimean Tatars11 2 1991Milli Mejlis
East Turkestan11 2 1991World Uyghur Congress
Gilgit Baltistan20 9 2008Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance
Haratin18 9 2011Initiative de Résurgence du Mouvement Abolitionniste en Mauritanie
Hmong2 2 2007Congress of World Hmong People
Iranian Kurds2 2 2007Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan
Kabylia6 6 2017MAK-Anavad
Khmer Krom15 7 2001Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation
Lezghin7 7 2012Federal Lezgian National and Cultural Autonomy
Madhesh14 10 2017Alliance for Independent Madhesh
Nagalim23 1 1993National Socialist Council of Nagalim
Ogaden6 2 2010Ogaden National Liberation Front
Ogoni19 1 1993Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People
Oromo19 12 2004Oromo Liberation Front
Rehoboth Basters2 2 2007Captains Council
Savoy15 7 2014Provisional Government of the State of Savoy
Sindh19 1 2002World Sindhi Institute
Somalilanders19 12 2004Government of Somaliland
South Moluccas6 8 1991Republic of South Moluccas
Southern Azerbaijanis2 2 2007South Azerbaijan Democratic Party
Southern Mongolians2 2 2007Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center
Sulu5 1 2015Sulu Foundation of Nine Ethnic Tribes
Taiwan11 2 1991Taiwan Foundation for Democracy
Tibet11 2 1991Central Tibetan Administration
West Balochistanis26 6 2005Balochistan People's Party
Western TogolandersHomeland Study Group Foundation

Suspensions

Organizations representing nations may become suspended from the UNPO if they fail to follow its covenant.
In 1993, Khalistan was briefly admitted in the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, but was suspended in a few months. The membership suspension was made permanent on 22 January 1995.
Scania was also suspended.

Former members

Some members of the UNPO have left because of United Nations recognition, autonomy agreements, or for other reasons.
The following lists former and suspended members.
Former members who became part of UN are highlighted with a blue background and italics. Original members are listed with pink background and in bold.
Former memberDate joinedDate withdrewNote
Aboriginals of Australia11 2 19917 7 2012Represented by National Committee to Defend Black Rights
Albanians in North Macedonia16 4 19941 3 2008Reached agreement on wider rights with Macedonia in 2001
Amazigh28 11 201426 11 2016Represented by World Amazigh Congress
11 2 19912 3 1992Became member of the UN in 1992
Bashkortostan3 2 199630 6 1998
Batwa17 1 1993Cultural Conservation Act
Bougainville6 8 1991Reached autonomy agreement with Papua New Guinea in 2000
Buffalo River Dene Nation19 12 20049 10 2009
Burma15 5 200813 2 2010Represented by National Council of the Union of Burma
Buryatia3 2 199613 2 2010Represented by All-Buryat Association for the Development of Culture
Cabinda17 4 199718 9 2011
Chameria8 6 2015Democratic Foundation of Chameria
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria6 8 199110 9 2010
Chin15 7 200126 11 2016Represented by Chin National Front
Chuvash17 1 19931 3 2008
Circassia16 4 199406 11 2015Represented by International Circassian Association
Cordillera11 2 19916 11 2015Represented by Cordillera Peoples' Alliance
Degar-Montagnards14 11 200329 4 2016Represented by Montagnard Foundation, Inc.
'17 1 199327 9 2002Became member of the UN in 2002
'11 2 199117 8 1991Became member of the UN in 1991
Gagauzia16 4 19941 12 2007Reached autonomy agreement with Moldova in 1994
11 2 199131 7 1992Became member of the UN in 1991
Greek minority in Albania11 2 19917 7 2012Represented by Omonoia
Hungarian minority in Romania30 7 1994Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania
Ingushetia30 7 19941 3 2008
Inkeri17 1 19939 10 2009
Iraqi Kurdistan11 2 19911 7 2015Represented by Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Iraqi Turkmen6 8 199127 11 2016Represented by Iraqi Turkmen Front, Turkmen Nationalist Movement, Turkmen Wafa Movement, and Islamic Union of Iraqi Turkmens
Kalahui Hawaii3 8 19937 7 2012Represented by Ka Lahui Hawaii
Karenni State19 1 19937 7 2012Represented by Karenni National Progressive Party
Khalistan24 1 19934 8 1993Membership suspended on 4 August 1993 and suspension made permanent 22 January 1995.
Komi17 1 19939 10 2009
Kosovo6 8 199124 3 2018Represented by Democratic League of Kosovo
Kumyk17 4 19971 3 2008
Lakota Nation30 7 19941 12 2007Followed by the declaration of the Republic of Lakotah
Latin American Indigenous Peoples 2016
11 2 199117 8 1991Became member of the UN in 1991
Maasai19 12 20047 7 2012Represented by Maasai Women for Education and Economic Development
Maohi30 7 19941 12 2007Represented by Hiti Tau
Mapuche19 1 199326 4 2016Represented by Mapuche Inter-Regional Council
Mari6 8 19919 10 2009
Mon3 2 19967 7 2012Represented by Mon Unity League
Moro26 9 201028 11 2014Represented by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, autonomy and peace deal with the government in 2014
Nahua Del Alto Balsas19 12 200420 9 2008
Nuxalk Nation23 9 19981 3 2008
11 2 199115 12 1994Became member of the UN in 1994
Rusyn23 9 19981 12 2007
Sakha3 8 199330 6 1998
Sanjak17 1 199318 9 2011Represented by the Bosnian National Council of Sanjak
Scania 19 1 199318 9 2011Membership suspended on 18 September 2011.
Shan17 4 19976 2 2010
South Arabia29 4 2016Represented by the Southern Democratic Assembly for Self-Determination for South Arabia's People
Talysh15 7 2014National Talysh Movement
Tatarstan11 2 19911 3 2008
Trieste 28 12 2014Represented by TRIEST NGO
Tsimshian2 2 200718 9 2011
Tuva3 2 199613 2 2010
Udmurt17 1 19936 7 2013
Vhavenda14 11 20031 7 2015Represented by Dabalorivhuwa Patriotic Front
West Papuans15 10 2014Free Papua Movement
Zanzibar6 8 19911 7 2015Represented by Zanzibar Democratic Alternative, in cooperation with the Civic United Front

Leadership

Secretaries general
NameTerm
Michael van Walt van Praag 1991–1998
Tsering Jampa 1997–1998
Helen S. Corbett 1998–1999
Erkin Alptekin 1999–2003
Marino Busdachin 2003–2018
Ralph J. Bunche III 2018–present

Executive Director
Chair/Presidents of the General Assembly