UT News Service | Aug 12: Naga Scholars’ Association on a Special Talks, will be hosting a webinar on 13th August, 2020, at 5pm on Conversation on Self-determination as Human Rights.
Speaker, Mr.Gam A Shimray, Secretary General, Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact, Ching Mai, Thailand. Gam A.Shimray is a Naga and he is a devoted human rights activist for almost 30 years. He has held important positions and was part of several civil and democratic rights initiatives. As the current Secretary-General of AIPP, he envisions to contribute to advancing the pursuit of indigenous peoples’ rights and democratization in Asia. He has good knowledge and takes keen interest on issues of biodiversity, Indigenous Knowledge and self-determination. He was also involved in peace-building initiatives in India and has authored some publications relating to human rights, environment and ethnic issues.
Chairperson, Prof. Lanusashi Longkumer, Head, Department of Geography, Nagaland University. Lanu Longkumer is a professor of Geography in Nagaland University. He has also worked with the community on Environmental conversation and Human Rights issues. He has authored several books and published many research papers.
Here is a concept note:
There is a competing understanding on the relationship between the right to self-determination and individual human rights. Some approaches suggest that promoting self-determination for peoples and protecting the human rights of individuals are competing priorities. However, self-determination has never simply meant independence or autonomy at the collective level only. In fact, it inseparable includes the free choice of people. Thus, the confusion arose from inadequate understanding of the association of the idea of ‘self’ or selfhood’ to the collective dimension of the right to self-determination and self-government. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) that emphasizes both individual and collective rights elucidate the clear shift in perspective. Recognizing that self-determination is a constitutive element of human dignity casts state sovereignty in a different light. UNDRIP encapsulates self-determination as an essential condition for groups of persons whose lives are tightly integrated to determine for themselves how their collective life develops, which requires not only collective decision-making, but also, the ability to make that decision-making effective – a point about practically managing interdependence. Hence, viewing self-determination from this point of view would give rise to interesting questions and consequences to both the Indo-Naga peace negotiations and to the conception of Naga Nationhood and self-government. It is expected that the conversation would enlighten us to have clearer understanding and perspective on the topic.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81385002632…
Meeting ID: 813 8500 2632
Passcode: 882845