The following are some of the activities that have been undertaken by
IHRAAM. This list does not include activities such as Interventions to the
UN Commission on Human Rights, UN Sub-Commission, consultations to
indigenous and minority groups, internship activities, etc. performed by
IHRAAM on an ongoing basis
Facilitated UN Briefing to over 100 representatives from minority organizations from
Canada, the U.S., India and Africa on the subject of minority rights in international
law. The Briefing was held in the Dag Hammarskjold Library, UN headquarters,
New York. Speaker: Elsa Stamatopoulou-Robbins.
Facilitated American minority lobbying with regard to the drafting of the Declaration
on the Rights of Minorities
Petitioned the Secretary-General of the United Nations under Resolution 1503
(XLVIII) concerning the gross violation of human rights, concerning the beating of
Los Angeles motorist Rodney King (April 1992) and the death sentence to juvenile
offender Gary Graham (November 1993), in the context of the persistent history of
gross violations of human rights of the African-American minority
Petitioned the Inter-American Court concerning the beating of Los Angeles motorist
Rodney King (April 1992)
Facilitated the attendance of representatives from minority organizations to various
international fora, such as the UNPO Conference on Self-Determination in the
Hague and the Technical Meeting of the Experts, UN Working Group on Minorities,
United Nations, Geneva
Co-sponsored Conference on "African-Americans & the Right to Self-
Determination," held at Hamline University on May 14, 1993
In cooperation with the Minnesota Advocates, solicited input from American
minority organizations concerning forthcoming state report to the Human Rights
Committee of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Participated in foundation and on-going development of the North American
Partners for Human Rights Education (NAPHRE) in conjunction with Amnesty
International (Canada and USA), Decade of Human Rights Education, Center for
World Education (University of Vermont), National Institute for Citizen Education in
the Law, Human Rights Center (University of Minnesota), Human Rights Research
and Education Centre (University of Ottawa)
Submitted a formal Communication of several hundred pages to the Human Rights
Committee concerning the human rights situation in a state submitting its report as
obliged under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Attended the World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, and preparatory
conferences in Saskatoon, Montreal and Bangkok
Conferred with the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism
during his mission of investigation to the U.S., and submitted videos and
substantial documentation, 1994
At Special Rapporteur's request, submitted critique of U.S. Response to the Special
Rapporteur's Final Report, 1996
Provided extensive consultation to American minority organization concerning its
presentation of a Petition under Resolution 1503 (XVLIII) and made a number of
interventions concerning the Final Report of Theo van Boven, UN Special
Rapporteur on Reparations, the Dalit population in India, African-Americans, and
Native American rights in relation to the Tribal Court
Conducted human rights educational seminars for the US National Bar Association
trainees in Geneva during 1994 session of the UN Sub-Commission
Provided consultation to IHRAAM Director Thlau-Goo-Yailth-Thlee and presiding
judge , as well as interviews to USA Today and Seattle Times, concerning the
historic trial referral of two aboriginal youths charged with robbery and assault from
the Superior Court of Washington State to the Kuye-di Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court
Co-publication with Clarity Press, Inc.of A Popular Guide to Minority Rights, edited
by IHRAAM Chair, Y.N. Kly. Published with support from the European Human
Rights Foundation, Brussels
Made numerous interventions at sessions of the UN Working Group and Sub-
Commission concerning the situation of African-Americans, the Dalits in India, and
the Haitian minority in the Dominican Republic, 1995
Facilitated communications between the National Organizing Committee/Chicago,
Million Man March and the UN , 1995
Intervened at the UN Working Group and Sub-Commission concerning the
situation of the Kashmiris of India, and the Nauxalk Nation of Canada, 1996
Submitted written communications, 1995, 1996 to the OSCE concerning human
dimension issues as they relate to minorities
Speaking engagements to minority organizations: National Bar Association, NCBL
Annual Meeting, International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, etc.,
1994-1996
Consultation, Mr. Ibrahima Fall, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, UN,
concerning UN resolution 1996/26 entitled "Minimum humanitarian standards,"
November 1st, 1996
Invited to sit as Judge on International Tribunal of the Kuye'di Thlingit Nation
concerning a complaint issued by a Member of that indigenous nation against the
American I.R.S., January, 1997
Interventions with regard to the situation in Kashmir, 53rd Session of the
Commission on Human Rights, March, 1997
Attendance/intervention, meeting of the UN Working Group on Minorities, May 26-
30, 1997
Written intervention to the UN Sub-Commission in support of the Working Group on
Minorities, August 3, 1997. IHRAAM has been advised that this intervention will be
reproduced as an NGO document for the 54th Session of the Commission of
Human Rights, under the item: Report of the Sub-Commission.
Consultation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights in relation to request
for comments on the Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights
Oral intervention to the UN Sub-Commission concerning human rights situation of
African-Americans, Dalits and Kashmiris, August 20, 1997.
Participation/exhibit at Commonwealth Conference, October, 1997. The Centre was
visited by most of the government delegations including Nelson Mandela, Tony
Blair and Prince Charles. All of them were briefed about the IHRAAM work. IHRAAM
has been advised by the Prince's staff to coordinate with the Prince's trust about our
activities.
Participation, NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court, 1997-1998
Article for The Fourth R, the Human Rights Publication of Amnesty International, Vol.
8, No. 2, Fall, 1997. Member of the Editorial Board, The Fourth R, ongoing.
Consultation, analytical paper for the Chair, UN Working Group on Minorities, "The
Hague Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities,"
February 28, 1998, to be included in the analytical review of the Hague
Recommendations conducted at the following session of the Working Group in
May, 1998.
Interventions with regard to the situation in Kashmir, 54th session, United Nations
Sub-Commission, March, 1998.
Co-sponsor, Celebration to mark the birthday of Dalit leader, Dr. Ambedkar, at
Howard University, May, 1998.
Video-taping of witnesses, two meetings, concerning human rights abuses of
indigenous peoples in Canadian residential schools, April, 1998.
Judge and Guest Speaker, International Tribunal of Original Nations concerning
safe-guarding Traditional Lakota Spirituality, May 5, 1998.
Submission of Court Brief Concerning Improper and Unauthorized Use of
Indigenous Spiritual Teachings. Temporary injunction granted, May 8th, 1998.
Attendance, intervention, Meeting of the UN Working Group on Minorities, May 25-
29,1998.
Conducted international law training session at the United Nations for 13 students,
May 28th, 1998.
Facilitated UN tour for 100 adults and students, John Hope Academy, Chicago,
June 2nd, 1998.
UN-accredited Observer, XXth session of the United Nations General Assembly to
consider the fight against the illicit production, sale, traffic and distribution of
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, New York, June 8-10th, 1998.
Official Observer, Public Meeting, Investigation into Human Rights Abuses at
Residential Schools, Canada, June 10-12th, 1998.
Intervention, 50th session of the UN Sub-Commission, concerning the situations in
Chiapas and Kashmir, August, 1998.
Sent representatives to the 1998 session of the Commission on Human Rights
working group re Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, November
30-December 11, 1998.
Invitation to IHRAAM Chair from Jacques Chirac, President of France, Mary
Robinson, UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, and Federico Mayor,
Directoro-General of UNESCO, to attend the REUNION DE PARIS: Les Droits de
l'homme al'aube du xxie siecle, UNESCO offices, Paris, December 7-8, 1998.
Intervention to the Human Rights Commission concerning the African American
Gullah claims of Ethnocide, April 1, 1999.
Round Table on "Children in Conflicts, April 15, 1999, at Commission on Human
Rights, Geneva. Co-sponsors: International Educational Development, WMC,
International Peace Burueau, MWl, IIFSO.
Nationwide survey of African American opinion on the issue of self-determination
and minority rights, 1999.
IHRAAM Petiton to the United Nations, July-August, 1999 on forced assimilation as
itrelates to African Americans, Native Americans and other national minorities in the
U.S.
IHRAAM interventions to the Sub-Commission, July-August, 1999
Concerning African Americans in Prison, Chiapas, and Kashmir
Concerning the 1993 Police Shooting of Archie Elliot III
Concerning the Lakota Sioux Indian Nation
IHRAAM Briefing on "The Right to Self-Determination and the Role of the United
Nations," United Nations, New York, October 1st, 1999. Panel and video
presentation.
Consultation with the Gullah-Geechee Coalition, and the Carlie Towne Foundation
inrelation to preservation of cultural heritage sites and minority rights of the African
American Gullah-Geechee peoples, 1998-ongoing.
Consultation and cooperation with the Jamahir Society for Culture & Philosophy,
Vienna, concerning Youth Camps in North Africa, forthcoming Jamahir Society
Conferences and Publications. 1998-Ongoing.
Assistance in the development of an international program for the National Institute
of Social Work and Social Sciences (NISWASS), India, a Dalit-established and
directed Institute practicing liberation-oriented pedagogy in serving the Dalit
population, 1999-ongoing.
Consultant to law firm of Joseph Farkas, Toronto, concerning the preparation for
the defense of immigration case for African American couple seeking political
asylum in Canada, October 1999. IHRAAM also prepared and submitted a
Complaint to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations concerning
refusal of Canada to grant asylum.
Sponsored seminar, "Human Rights & Armed Conflicts," Salle XVIII, Palais des
Nations, United Nations, April 11th, 2000.
IHRAAM Intervention to the Sub-Commission on Agenda Item 11: Forced
Disappearances, April, 2000.
Participated in the Prepcom of the World Conference Against Racism, Intervention
on Item 7-8, May, 2000.
Submitted Communication to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights concerning Arbitrary Detention of Four Mexican Social Activists, June 25,
2000.
Co-sponsor: First International Conference on the Right to Self-Determination and
the United Nations: From Minority Rights to Political Independence, Forum Park
Hotel, Geneva, Aug. 11-13, 2000.
Co-sponsor with University of Regina, Roundtable on Justice and the Social,
Economic and Political Prerequisites for the Elimination of Weapons of Mass
Destruction, Regina, Canada, November 2003.
Co-sponsor, Second International Conference on the Right to Self-determination,
the United Nations, and International Civil Society, Geneva, August 2004.
Co-sponsor with East-West University, Roundtable on The United Nations &
International Power Politics: The Future of World Order, Chicago, IL. , June 2004
Consultation and Speaking Engagement, Gullah-Geechee Kwanzaa Conference,
December 26-30th, 2005, Charleston, S.C.
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