The 17th session of the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues was held at the Palais de Nations, Geneva, from 28-29th November under the theme “Minority representation and self-representation in public spaces and discourses”. On the 29th November, the UNPO hosted a side-event at the United Nations, launching our new focus on the ‘Right to Diplomacy’. The UNPO Secretariat were honoured to receive representatives from 16 UNPO members, witnessing communal advocacy, empowerment and the strengthening of ties within our community.
Ms. Nieves Cancela, UNPO’s Global Advocacy Officer delivered an in-person intervention on behalf of UNPO during Session 3 of the forum “Minority representation in the media”. Her intervention outlines how representation is a fundamental right of all peoples. The following extract is taken from the speech delivered by Ms. Cancela, a recording of which can be found below.
“Across the globe, countless peoples are misrepresented every day in media and social media, with their narratives being shaped by others and their identities being erased or diminished by the oftentimes mistaken and misleading label of “minorities”. This misrepresentation not only manipulates their reality, but also fuels hate speech and misinformation, further deepening polarization and obstructing the pathways to meaningful dialogue and cooperation between nations.
It is crucial that we examine representation in all spheres of society. Therefore, UNPO recommends that the recognition of representation as a fundamental right of peoples be prioritized. Representation is not a privilege of states nor a concession, but a fundamental right of peoples. It is the right of peoples to own their narratives, preserve their identities, and engage meaningfully in diplomacy by being consulted in policymaking processes, including playing an active role in the development of international legal and institutional frameworks to counter the misuse of media against them.
Peaceful and inclusive societies, as stipulated in SDG 16, cannot truly be realized if the voices of the many remain unheard. This is especially true when spaces for representation are compromised or misused. To “leave no one behind” means ensuring that even those that may not have a permanent seat are recognized as equal right-holders.”
In the build-up to the forum, the Secretariat provided extensive support to members wishing to engage in the forum. This included conducting several Training sessions to equip members with knowledge on the forum and how to effectively engage with it. The UNPO thanks the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues for attending the second training session.
The Secretariat was exceptionally proud to support the large number of members that attended and intervened at the forum: Acheh (intervened), Annobon, Ahwaz (intervened), West Baluchistan (intervened), Batwa (intervened), Brittany, Chittagong Hill Tracts (intervened), East Turkestan (intervened), Guam, Haratin (intervened), Kabylia, Iranian Kurdistan (intervened), Niger Delta (intervened), Southern Mongolia (intervened), Tibet (intervened), Washington DC.
The Forum also provided a rich opportunity for the Secretariat to organize multiple gatherings where UNPO members could share updates with each other, solidify ties within the UNPO network, and have the opportunity to engage with other actors in the field.
