Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

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Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
Flag Logo
Members of UNPO. Former members are in dark gray.
Membership	44 groups[1]
Leaders
• President[2]	Edna Adan Ismail
• Vice-Presidents[2]	Elisenda Paluzie Rubina Greenwood
• Presidency members include	Abdirahman Mahdi Dolkun Isa Paul Strauss Tina Rose Muña Barnes
Establishment	11 February 1991
Website unpo.org

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The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, or simply UNPO is an international organization established to facilitate the voices of unrepresented and marginalized nations and peoples worldwide. It was formed on 11 February 1991^[3][4] 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 (UN).^[5][6]

Throughout 2024, UNPO conducted several training sessions aimed at helping its members and activists. Sessions included in-person training for Asia Pacific members in Geneva, online cybersecurity training, a cybersecurity training in person for the Baloch community in Stockholm, and a youth study session supported by the Council of Europe, emphasizing the importance of acquiring and improving necessary skills for advocacy within marginalized communities. ^[7]

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 [nl], along with 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 in the Philippines, the Greek minority in Albania, Kurdistan, Palau, Taiwan, and West Papua.^[8] 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.^[9][10]

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 International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC). A Foundation was established in the Netherlands to provide secretarial support to the UNPO General Assembly and to carry out 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[9]

Although UNPO members often have different goals, they have one thing in common: they are generally not represented diplomatically (or only with a minor status, such as observer) in major international institutions, such as the United Nations (UN). As a result, their ability to have their concerns addressed by the global bodies mandated to protect human rights and address conflict is limited.^[9]

UNPO is dedicated to the five principles enshrined in its Covenant:

• The equal right to self-determination;
• Adherence to the internationally accepted human rights standards as laid down in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and other international instruments;
• Adherence to the principles of democratic pluralism and rejection of totalitarianism and religious intolerance;
• Promotion of non-violence and the rejection of terrorism as an instrument of policy; and
• Protection of the natural environment.

All members are required to sign and abide by the UNPO Covenant.^[11] UNPO members are required to be nonviolent.^[12]

The following are listed as members by the UNPO.^[13]

Original members are listed with pink background and in bold. Members who are recognised as independent countries by at least 1 UN Member or by other countries recognised by at least 1 UN member are marked by asterisk (*).

Member	Date joined	Represented by	Ref
Abkhazians*	6 August 1991	Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia	[14]
Aceh	11 February 1991	Acheh-Sumatra National Liberation Front	[15]
Annobón	14 May 2024	Ambô Legadu	[16]
Afrikaners	15 May 2008	Freedom Front Plus	[17]
Ahwazi	14 November 2003	Democratic Solidarity Party of Ahwaz	[18]
Assyrians	6 August 1991	Assyrian Universal Alliance	[19]
Balochistan	1 March 2008	Balochistan National Party (Mengal)	[20]
Barotseland	23 November 2013	Barotse National Freedom Alliance	[21]
Bellah people	6 June 2017	Malian Association for the Preservation of Bellah Culture	[22]
Biafra	31 July 2020	Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra/Biafra Independence Movement	[1][23]
Brittany	8 June 2015	Kelc’h An Dael [br]	[24]
Catalans	14 December 2018	Assemblea Nacional Catalana	[25]
Chittagong Hill Tracts	6 August 1991	Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti	[26]
Crimean Tatars	11 February 1991	Milli Mejlis	[27]
District of Columbia (Washington, DC)	4 December 2015	D.C. Statehood Congressional Delegation	[28]
East Turkestan	11 February 1991	World Uyghur Congress	[29]
Gilgit Baltistan	20 September 2008	Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance	[30]
Guam	31 July 2020	Government of Guam	[1][23]
Haratin	18 September 2011	Initiative de Résurgence du Mouvement Abolitionniste en Mauritanie	[31]
Hmong	2 February 2007	Congress of World Hmong People	[32]
Iranian Kurds	2 February 2007	Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan	[33]
Kabylia	6 June 2017	MAK-Anavad	[34]
Khmer Krom	15 July 2001	Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation	[35]
Nagalim	23 January 1993	National Socialist Council of Nagalim	[36]
Ogaden	6 February 2010	Ogaden National Liberation Front	[37]
Ogoni	19 January 1993	Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People	[38]
Oromo	19 December 2004	Oromo Liberation Front	[39]
Savoy	15 July 2014	Provisional Government of the State of Savoy	[40]
Sindhis	19 January 2002	World Sindhi Congress	[41]
Somaliland*	19 December 2004	Government of Somaliland	[42]
South Moluccas	6 August 1991	Republic of South Moluccas	[43]
Southern Azerbaijanis	2 February 2007	South Azerbaijan Democratic Party	[44]
Southern Mongolians	2 February 2007	Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center	[45]
Sulu	5 January 2015	Sulu Foundation of Nine Ethnic Tribes	[46]
Taiwan*	11 February 1991	Taiwan Foundation for Democracy	[47]
Tibet	11 February 1991	Central Tibetan Administration	[48]
West Balochistan	26 June 2005	Balochistan People's Party	[49]
Western Togolanders	2017	Homeland Study Group Foundation	[50]
West Papuans	11 February 1991	Free Papua Movement	[8][51]
Yoruba	31 July 2020	Yoruba World Congress	[1][23]
Zambesia	31 July 2020	Movement for the Survival of the River Races of Zambesia	[1][23]

Some members of the UNPO have left because of United Nations (UN) recognition, autonomy agreements, or for other reasons.

The following lists former and suspended members.^[13]

Former members who became part of the UN are highlighted with a blue background and italics. Original members (from 11 February 1991) are listed with pink background and in bold. Former members who are recognised as independent countries by at least 1 UN member or by other countries recognised by at least 1 UN member are marked by asterisk (*). Suspended members are marked by yellow background.

Former member	Date joined	Date withdrew	Note	Ref
Aboriginals of Australia	11 February 1991	7 July 2012	Represented by National Committee to Defend Black Rights	[52]
Albanians in North Macedonia	16 April 1994	1 March 2008	Reached agreement on wider rights with North Macedonia in 2001	[53]
Amazigh	28 November 2014	26 November 2016	Represented by World Amazigh Congress	[54]
Ambazonia	25 October 2006	7 June 2021	Represented by the Southern Cameroons National Council and Ambazonia Governing Council (from September 2018).	[55]
Armenia	11 February 1991	2 March 1992	Became member of the UN in 1992	[56]
Bashkortostan	3 February 1996	30 June 1998		[57]
Batwa	17 January 1993	December 2019	Cultural Conservation Act	[58]
Bougainville	6 August 1991	1 March 2008	Reached an agreement with Papua New Guinea in 2021, in which Bougainville will be independent by 2027.	[59]
Buffalo River Dene Nation	19 December 2004	9 October 2009		[60]
Burma	15 May 2008	13 February 2010	Represented by National Council of the Union of Burma. The Myanmar military junta was dissolved in 2011.	[61]
Buryatia	3 February 1996	13 February 2010	Represented by All-Buryat Association for the Development of Culture	[62]
Cabinda	17 April 1997	18 September 2011	Represented by the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda	[63]
Chameria	8 June 2015	December 2019	Democratic Foundation of Chameria	[64][13]
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria*	6 August 1991	10 September 2010	Government-in-exile in London.	[65]
Chin	15 July 2001	26 November 2016	Represented by Chin National Front	[66]
Chuvash	17 January 1993	1 March 2008	Represented by the Chuvash National Congress	[67]
Circassia	16 April 1994	6 November 2015	Represented by International Circassian Association	[68]
Cordillera	11 February 1991	6 November 2015	Represented by Cordillera Peoples' Alliance	[69]
Degar-Montagnards	14 November 2003	29 April 2016	Represented by Montagnard Foundation, Inc.	[70]
East Timor	17 January 1993	27 September 2002	Became member of the UN in 2002	[71]
Estonia	11 February 1991	17 September 1991	Became member of the UN in 1991	[72]
Gagauzia	16 April 1994	1 December 2007	Reached autonomy agreement with Moldova in 1994	[73]
Georgia	11 February 1991	31 July 1992	Became member of the UN in 1991	[74]
Greek minority in Albania	11 February 1991	7 July 2012	Represented by Omonoia	[75]
Hungarian minority in Romania	30 July 1994	2015	Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania	[76]
Ingushetia	30 July 1994	1 March 2008		[77]
Inkeri	17 January 1993	9 October 2009		[78]
Iraqi Kurdistan	11 February 1991	1 July 2015	Represented by Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan	[79]
Iraqi Turkmen	6 August 1991	27 November 2016	Represented by Iraqi Turkmen Front, Turkmen Nationalist Movement, Turkmen Wafa Movement, and Islamic Union of Iraqi Turkmens	[80]
Kalahui Hawaii	3 August 1993	7 July 2012	Represented by Ka Lahui Hawaii	[81]
Karenni State	19 January 1993	7 July 2012	Represented by Karenni National Progressive Party[failed verification]	[82]
Khalistan	24 January 1993[83]	4 August 1993	Membership suspended on 4 August 1993 and suspension made permanent 22 January 1995.[84]	[85]
Komi	17 January 1993	9 October 2009		[86]
Kosovo*	6 August 1991	24 March 2018	Represented by Democratic League of Kosovo	[87]
Kumyk	17 April 1997	1 March 2008		[88]
Lakota Nation	30 July 1994	1 December 2007	Followed by the declaration of the Republic of Lakotah	[89]
Latin American Indigenous Peoples (Project)	2016	?		[13]
Latvia	11 February 1991	17 September 1991	Became member of the UN in 1991	[90]
Lezghin	7 July 2012	30 October 2023	Federal Lezgian National and Cultural Autonomy	[91]
Maasai	19 December 2004	7 July 2012	Represented by Maasai Women for Education and Economic Development	[92]
Maohi	30 July 1994	1 December 2007	Represented by Hiti Tau	[93]
Madhesh	14 October 2017	30 October 2023	Represented by Alliance for Independent Madhesh	[94]
Mapuche	19 January 1993	26 April 2016	Represented by Mapuche Inter-Regional Council	[95]
Mari	6 August 1991	9 October 2009		[96]
Mon	3 February 1996	7 July 2012	Represented by Mon Unity League	[97]
Moro	26 September 2010	28 November 2014	Represented by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, autonomy and peace deal with the government in 2014	[98]
Nahua Del Alto Balsas	19 December 2004	20 September 2008		[99]
Nuxalk Nation	23 September 1998	1 March 2008		[100]
Palau (Belau)	11 February 1991	15 December 1994	Became member of the UN in 1994	[101]
Rusyn	23 September 1998	1 December 2007		[102]
Sakha	3 August 1993	30 June 1998		[103]
Sanjak	17 January 1993	18 September 2011	Represented by the Bosnian National Council of Sanjak	[104]
Scania (Skåneland)	19 January 1993	18 September 2011	Membership suspended on 18 September 2011.[105]	[106]
Rehoboth Basters	2 February 2007	December 2019[107]	Represented by Captains Council
Shan	17 April 1997	6 February 2010		[108]
South Arabia	29 April 2016		Represented by the Southern Democratic Assembly for Self-Determination for South Arabia's People	[109]
Talysh	15 July 2014		National Talysh Movement	[110]
Tatarstan	11 February 1991	1 March 2008		[111]
Trieste (Free Territory of Trieste)	28 December 2014		Represented by TRIEST NGO	[112]
Tsimshian	2 February 2007	18 September 2011		[113]
Tuva	3 February 1996	13 February 2010		[114]
Udmurt	17 January 1993	6 July 2013	Represented by Udmurt Council	[115]
Vhavenda	14 November 2003	1 July 2015	Represented by Dabalorivhuwa Patriotic Front	[116]
Zanzibar	6 August 1991	1 July 2015	Represented by Zanzibar Democratic Alternative, in cooperation with the Civic United Front	[117]

UNPO's representing nations may become suspended from the Organization if they fail to follow its covenant.^[118]

In 24 January 1993, Khalistan was briefly admitted in the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, but was suspended a few months after its admission. The membership suspension was made permanent on 22 January 1995.^[119][120]

Scania was also suspended on 18 September 2011.^[121]

Secretaries general^[122]

Name	Term
Michael van Walt van Praag [nl] (Netherlands)	1991–1998
Tsering Jampa [fr] (Tibet)	1997–1998
Helen S. Corbett (Australian Aboriginals)	1998–1999
Erkin Alptekin (Uyghurs)	1999–2003
Marino Busdachin (Italy)	2003–2018
Ralph J. Bunche III (USA)	2018–2023
Mercè Monje Cano (Spain)	2023–current

Chair/Presidents of the General Assembly

• Linnart Mäll – (Estonia) 1991–1993
• Erkin Alptekin – (Uyghurs) 1993–1997
• Seif Sharif Hamad – (Zanzibar) 1997–2001
• John J. Nimrod – (Assyrians) 2001–2005
• Göran Hansson – (Scania) 2005–2006
• Ledum Mitee – (Ogoni) 2006–2010
• Ngawang Choephel Drakmargyapon – (Tibet) 2010–2015
• Nasser Boladai – (West Balochistan) 2015–2022
• Edna Adan Ismail - (Somaliland) since 2022

Special Executive Director

• Karl Habsburg-Lothringen – (Austria) 19 January 2002 – 31 December 2002
• Mercè Monje Cano – (Catalonia) 1 October 2021 – current (acting as Interim Secretary General since 2023)

• Federal Union of European Nationalities
• Micronation
• League for Small and Subject Nationalities
• United Nations list of non-self-governing territories
• Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples
• List of active separatist movements recognized by intergovernmental organizations
• European Free Alliance
• Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum
• Stateless nation

• Kyris, George; Brisland, Maurice (2024). "International Society and Its Many Contestations: A Study of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization". Global Studies Quarterly. 4 (2). doi:10.1093/isagsq/ksae044.

• Official website