Geneva - 24 March 2005. Members of the International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic and Other Minorities (IFPRERLOM) delegation, from many corners of the world, have come to participate as the UN Commission on Human Rights holds its sixty-first session in Geneva. As the work of the Commission centres on matters such as the right to self-determination, minorities and indigenous issues, this is an important occasion for Members to partake in one of the prime UN human rights instruments.

Prior to the session, written statements, submitted by various NGOs to the UNCHR, covered human rights issues relating to the current situation of several UNPO Members. As these texts form part of the documentation material distributed under the various agenda items being discussed by the Commission, the statements are instrumental in drawing attention to ongoing human rights violations worldwide. During the session members of the IFPRERLOM delegation will have the opportunity to take the floor and deliver oral statements to the Commission, in which issues relevant to UNPO Members also will be raised. For attendees in Geneva, networking and UNPO-facilitated meetings between Member delegates and various thematic mandates of the Commission constitute other key activities.

Wednesday 23 March, Members gathered for a closed session in Palais des Nations, in which delegates gave brief presentations of their respective backgrounds, recent developments in their region, as well as stating aims and objectives for their participation at the UNCHR. The meeting was attended by Members representing Ahwaz, Cabinda, Iraqi Turkmen and Southern Cameroons, as well as members of the UNPO Secretariat.

During the meeting Members exchanged ideas and experiences, and the discussion highlighted the many commonalities of the struggles in which Members are engaged. Other Members that will attend the session this year are representatives from the nations and peoples of Buffalo River, Eastern Turkestan, Khmers Kampuchea-Krom, Ogoni, Oromo and Shan.

From Geneva, Maria Skeie for UNPO