Seminars

International seminar

Minority and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

4-5 October 2011
at Kuntatalo, Helsinki

Abilis Foundation, The Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights KIOS and Siemenpuu Foundation organized an international seminar 4-5 October 2011. What are the discriminating structures violating the rights of the minorities and indigenous peoples? How can we break down these discriminating structures?

Key facilitators of the seminar included experts in human rights and ecological democracy representing NGOs from Bangladesh, Brazil, Burundi, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Rwanda, Somaliland, Tibet and Uruguay, and from Finnish and international institutions. Topics under discussion included the implications of multiple discrimination, the promotion of the rights of the sexual minorities, women’s rights and roles in promotion and preservation of minority cultures, the cultural structures discriminating disabled people, and the methods to fight against the displacement of indigenous peoples.

The seminar provided networking opportunities for NGO representatives, government officials, researchers, students, other professionals of nature conservation, human rights and development and everyone interested in development cooperation.

Key facilitators:

Ms. Pushpa Toppo, Save the Forest Movement, India
Ms. Sonia Guajajara, COIAB, Brazil
Mr. Nanang Sujana, Telapak, Indonesia
Ms. Tenzin Dhardon Sharling, Tibetan Women’s Association, Tibet
Mr. Elphas Naivasha Njeru, Gay Kenya Trust, Kenya
Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, Odhikar, Bangladesh
Mr. Zephyrin Kalimba, Communauté des Potiers du Rwanda COPORWA, Rwanda
Ms. Tika Dahal, Nepal Disabled Women Association, Nepal
Ms. Jannatul Ferdous Ivy, National Council of Disabled Women, Bangladesh
H.E. Mr. Vital Bambanze, Unissons-Nous Pour la Promotion des Batwa UNIPROBA, Burundi
Ms. Gulmira Kazakunova, Ravenstvo, Kyrgyzstan
Mr. Pablo Martinez, World Fainforest Movement, Uruguay
Mr. Josephat Torner, Information Centre on Disability, Tanzania.