May 21, 2013

The Forgotten Nation: Turkmens in Iraq


Thursday, 6th June 2013, 11.00-13.00

Room IX, Palais des Nations

Geneva, Switzerland

The Forgotten Nation: Turkmens in Iraq

On behalf of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and Minority Rights Group International, you are cordially invited to attend the parallel event “The Forgotten Nation: Turkmens in Iraq”, which will take place at Palais des Nations (room IX), Geneva, on the 6th of June 2013, 11.00-13.00.

The event will serve as a platform for raising awareness about the current human rights situation in Iraq and the marginalization of the Iraqi Turkmens as a forgotten nation. The Iraqi Turkmens are the third largest community in the country, yet discrimination and oppression continue to prevail. The nature of the 23rd Human Rights Council session, a Human Rights Review, is the natural occasion to raise the issue and put it on the agenda for further discussion.

Historically prominent administrators and politicians, Turkmens in Iraq have lost access to the political arena and consequently the decisions directly affecting their community. Cultural and land ownership rights were also gradually taken away ever since the British rule, followed by the “Arabization” campaign under Saddam Hussein’s regime. This policy of assimilation followed by massacres directed at the Turkmens community has led to the decay of Turkmen civil society. This event is designed to inform the public of the present Turkmens’ rights predicament in Iraq, and open a discussion about the pressing issues and the importance of recognition.

The confirmed speakers include:

Dr. Sheth Jerjis – Chair of the Iraqi Turkmen Human Rights Research Foundation and the editor and web master of the daily electronic newspaper Turkmen Tribune;

Mr. Salman Mofak – the author of “Brief History of Iraqi Türkmen”, “Türkmen of Iraq”, “Türkmen city of Tuz Khormatu” and a report on Kurdish Abuse in Türkmeneli;

Mr. Chris Chapman – Head of Conflict Prevention at Minority Rights Group International;

Ms. Sundus Abbas - Iraq Turkmen Front Representative to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Ahmed Al Hurmizi - Iraqi Turkmen Academic association member; Turkmen Aspect website manager

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 NOW CLOSED

FOR ANY QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT

Tatsiana Yankelevich at [email protected]