The Organization of Unrepresented Nations and Peoples (UNPO) held its 21st General Assembly in The Hague on August 29 and 30, 2026. Representatives of the member nations and peoples of the UNPO reviewed the organization's activities, discussed developments affecting their communities, adopted resolutions, and elected a new presidency.
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) held its 21st General Assembly in The Hague on August 29 and 30, 2026. Representatives of the nations and peoples that are members of the UNPO reviewed the organization's activities, discussed developments affecting their communities, adopted resolutions, and elected a new presidency.
The Assembly took place against a backdrop of rapid geopolitical change, increasing pressure on multilateralism, and heightened financial challenges for organizations working in the fields of human rights and self-determination. Members reaffirmed that all peoples have the right to determine their political, economic, social, and cultural future, while emphasizing that solidarity and collective action are essential to advancing this right.
Election of a new presidency for the 2026-2028 term:
The Assembly elected Rubina Greenwood (Sindh) as president. Abdirahman Mahdi (Ogaden) and Sofia Amini (Iranian Kurdistan) were elected vice-presidents, and Tammy Breedt (Afrikaners) was elected treasurer.
The other members of the presidency are:
Senator Paul Strauss (District of Columbia)
Mourad Amellal (Kabylie)
Senator Tina Muna Barnes (Guam)
Zumretay Arkin (Eastern Turkestan)
Nancy Sinay (South Moluccas)
Deedagh Jamalzhi (Western Balochistan)
Ariadna Heinz (Catalonia)
Under the leadership of President Greenwood, the new presidency will continue the UNPO's long-standing commitment to placing the right to self-determination at the heart of its activities. It will lead coordinated advocacy efforts, effectively bringing the concerns and aspirations of unrepresented nations and peoples to policymakers and international institutions.
Thanks to the outgoing Secretary-General:
The General Assembly thanked Ms. Mercè Monje Cano for her seven years of service to the UNPO, nearly four of which were as Secretary-General. We commend her leadership and contributions and wish her much success in her future endeavors.
Rethinking self-determination:
This Assembly followed the second UNPO conference titled "Rethinking Self-Determination," held in The Hague on August 27 and 28, 2026, as part of the organization's 35th anniversary.
The statement resulting from the conference reaffirmed the equal right of all peoples to self-determination, as well as their right to determine their political, economic, social, and cultural future. It called for meaningful political participation and representation, the preservation of histories, identities, and cultures, as well as the maintenance of solidarity among unrepresented nations and peoples. It also recognized the advocacy opportunities and risks posed by digital technologies, particularly regarding surveillance, intimidation, and misinformation.
Future perspectives:
The 21st General Assembly concluded with a renewed commitment to the right to self-determination and the rights of unrepresented nations and peoples. We call on regional organizations in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and the Pacific to establish concrete mechanisms and permanent spaces that allow unrepresented nations and peoples to peacefully express their grievances, advocate for their rights, and participate in decisions affecting their future, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the fundamental principles of equality, dignity, and self-determination.
The UNPO thanks its members, its Secretariat collaborators, its partners, and its supporters for their contributions and ongoing commitment as the organization embarks on a new chapter in its history.
UNPO
The link to the original article in English: https://unpo.org/unpo-holds-xxi-general-assembly-in-the-hague-reaffirming-the-right-to-self-determination/
My contribution to the UNPO microphone, translated here:
Hello dear friends of UNPO.
I am happy to be among you for this General Assembly, and I hope that UNPO will soon regain its financial independence, for full strength and effectiveness.
I am here to say a few words about my country, Brittany. Today nothing has changed and nothing has moved for decades: France continues to control everything in Brittany, administratively, politically, socially, ecologically, financially, and culturally.
Brittany has no voice, no parliament, no autonomy, nor a real budget to manage its own affairs.
Its languages, Breton and Gallo, are still ostracized and on the verge of extinction. Its culture is minimized, and its history denied. Its territory is still administratively fragmented, with the department of Loire Atlantique always separated from the other four departments.
Yes, nothing is changing in Brittany, and with the current situation in France, we have little hope of seeing things evolve positively.
That is why we need a strong and effective UNPO now more than ever.
Long live Brittany, long live UNPO, and long live all the minority peoples and cultures of the world.
Thank you all, dear friends of UNPO.
For KAD, JLLC.
