Iranian Kurdistan: Youths Informed About UNPO
Dr Ali Abdelzadeh, representative of Iranian Kurdistan to the UNPO and a member of the UNPO presidency, gave a lecture earlier this week to Kurdish youths in Sweden. He informed them about the UNPO’s aims and activities, and the means by which the organisation can be used to further the Kurdish cause.
Below is an article published by PDKI:
On October 18 [2015], Dr. Ali Abdelzadeh, representative of Iranian Kurdistan to the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and member of the UNPO presidency, gave a lecture about the UNPO for the Kurdish youths in Sweden. The lecture was organized by Democratic Youth Union of Iranian Kurdistan (Lawan) in Sweden.
Abdelzadeh outlined the goals and objectives of UNPO, as well as its organizational structure. He also provided information about how the organization is working with EU and UN, emphasizing that the UNPO is keen about that other international bodies hear and listen to the voices of its members.
Abdelzadeh underlined that the UNPO is playing a vital role in promoting the human and cultural rights of its members by, among other things, contributing to and participating in parliamentary hearings, attending UN Human Rights Council sessions, and writing alternative reports for the Universal Periodic Review.
“The UNPO constitutes an important platform for unrepresented nations and peoples not represented in any other international organizations,” Abdelzadeh said. “Through the UNPO, these nations have a unique opportunity to promote their democratic causes and be sure that their legitimate demands are heard internationally”, he added.
Abdelzadeh also highlighted the role of UNPO as an important forum for sharing experiences and learning from each other’s struggle for self-determination and national rights.
History of UNPO
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization is an international, nonviolent, and democratic organization which represents over forty different nations and indigenous peoples worldwide. The organization was established in 1991 with the aim to protect and promote the human and cultural rights of its members, to help preserve their environments, and to find nonviolent solutions to conflicts which affect them. Dalai Lama played an important role in the establishment of UNPO.
Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) is representing Iranian Kurdistan in the UNPO since 2007. Iranian Kurdistan is one out of ten members of the UNPO presidency.
Photo credit: Sean Long @Flickr
