1st UNPO General Secretary Honoured by the Netherlands
On 24 April 2020, Michael van Walt van Praag, former General-Secretary of the UNPO, received the royal distinction of Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau for his life-long dedication and commendable achievements in support of the unrepresented nations and peoples of the world; his tireless mediating activities regarding intrastate conflicts; as well as his academic pursuits. The award, given by the King of the Netherlands, is given on the King’s birthday to a select few of remarkable individuals who have given great service to a particular cause.
Over his long career, Van Praag has worked with unrepresented peoples around the world. Since 1984, he has been a Legal Advisor to the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the Tibetan government in exile, which has involved giving advice on all matters relating to public international law, constitutional law and human rights law as well as on international relations and strategic issues. Between 1991 and 1998, Van Praag was the first General Secretary of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), being responsible for the conduct of negotiations with governments and international organisations, including the UN and the OSCE.
The UNPO congratulates Michael van Walt van Praag for the award and expresses its gratitude for his services to the cause of the unrepresented peoples worlwide.
