A parallel event was organised under the auspices of International Human Rights of American Minorities (IHRAAM) at the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The title of the event was “Self Determination and Human Rights” which was attended by civil society, nongovernmental organisations, academics and diplomats among others.
Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo of IHRAAM moderated the event and he was joined by fellow panelists Professor Alfred de Zayas (First Independent Expert on the Promotion of Equitable and Democratic International Order and visiting professor at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations), Ambassador Ronald Barnes (Chair – Indigenous Peoples and Nations Coalition – Alaska Decolonisation Movement) Rania Madi via video (Human Rights Activist for Palestine) and Professor Curtis Doebbler (Research Professor of Law at the University of Makeni and Proprietor of the Law Offices of Dr Curtis FJ Doebbler) via written presentation.
Barrister Tramboo in his opening remarks highlighted that in essence the right to self-determination means that individuals and peoples should be in control of their destinies and should be able to live out their identities.
He identified that duty bearers of the right to self-determination are all State Members of the United Nations, who must recognize and promote this right.
Referring to the Indian nationalist government at New Delhi, Barrister Tramboo emphasised that whatever changes are being made and demographic change in the pipeline nothing will diminish the Kashmiris right to self-determination bearing in mind that there are the UN resolutions on Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and those are not subject to any domestic law.—KMS
