UNPO CONFERENCE – Iranian Minorities / Kurds and others : What Future After Ahmadinejad?

Tuesday, 11th June 2013, 13.00-15.00 (TBC)

Palais des Nations Geneva, Switzerland

On behalf of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and the Nonviolent Radical Party, you are cordially invited to attend the parallel event ”Iranian minorities: what future after Ahmadinejad?” taking place at Palais des Nations – Geneva, on 11th June 2013, 13.00-15.00  (TBC).

Through this event, UNPO in cooperation with the Nonviolent Radical Party aims at bringing attention to the human rights situation of religious and national minorities in Iran and discussing the impact that the upcoming Iranian presidential elections could mean for them and the country‘s human rights situation as a whole.

Iran’s population includes a large number of religious, ethnic, and linguistic minorities. These groups are highly diverse, but share common experiences of economic marginalization, political repression and denial of even the most basic of cultural rights. This year marks a decisive moment for Iran and its minorities. It is the first time since 1993 that Iran comes under review for its respect of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This combines with the approach of the Iranian presidential elections that will be held in June. Both events are expected to have implications for the respect of minority rights in Iran, including on the rights of minorities to enjoy their own cultures and identities, to profess and practice their own religions and use their own languages.  

The event will bring together human rights activists from minority groups in Iran, distinguished political scholars, and international experts and representatives from international organizations who will inform the audience of the present minority rights predicament in Iran.

The confirmed speakers who will contribute with their expertise in this regard include:

Mr. Hillel Neuer – Executive Director of the UN Watch, a human rights NGO in Geneva, Switzerland); 

Mr. Karim Abdian – Director of the Ahwaz Education and Human Rights Foundation; 

Mr. Abdollah Hejab – Representative of Iranian Kurdistan and member of UNPO Presidency; 

Ms. Monireh Sulemani – Representative of the Balochistan Peoples Party

Mr. Taimoor Aliassi – UN Representative of the Association for Human Rights in Kurdistan of   Iran – Geneva (KMMK – G).

 A representative of the Nonviolent Radical Party will moderate the event.

More information on the Conference will be available soon on www.unpo.org and on our Facebook page.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE 6th June 2013

Please fill in the registration form here.
FOR ANY QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT
Dovilė Morkevičiūtė dovile@unpo.org