Human Rights Day 2007

 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

10 December 2007

 

Indigenous peoples across the world are encountering various levels of exploitation and human rights violation.  Their struggles to keep control of their lands, their institutions and to have their own worldview are seldom honoured and respected.  Many indigenous peoples generally feel that their efforts to sustain them are subjected to development agendas that are not of their own creation and that often deprive them of their rights.

 

Marginalized groups such as the indigenous peoples are very much aware that development is very much linked to power and they know very well that ultimately the interests of the more powerful groups or communities would always prevail.  Because of this historical experience of exclusion and marginalization, preserving their identity and therefore dignity, is a very special concern of indigenous peoples.  A sense of identity gives them power in their powerlessness.  It enhances the bonds amongst all those who freely identify themselves as indigenous peoples. As their cultural beliefs, their livelihood practices and even their political agency are so closely linked to lands, they see their identity and their dignity to be profoundly embedded in their rights to land.

 

International organizations are increasingly aware of this predicament of indigenous peoples and of the history of their marginalization in many parts of the world.  Several UN bodies have therefore created charters to draw attention to the special identity of indigenous peoples.  These charters note that in order to respect their desire to have their own identity and dignity, they have to be accorded rights to their resources and cultural practices.  Several National Governments have also passed specific laws on the rights and special identities of indigenous peoples and their right to ownership over their traditional lands.  However, despite these international conventions and national legislations, indigenous peoples continue to be marginalized. It is in this background that the School of International Relations and Politics, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam is organizing a programme in connection with the Human Rights Day on 10 December 2007. It is being observed as “Indigenous Peoples’ Day”

 

 

The School of International Relations and Politics, Mahatma Gandhi University observed  Human Rights Day 2007 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In this connection, the School organized a  symposium, a painting exhibition as well as screening of a documentary on Mullaperiyar.

 

Sri. Binoy Viswam, Minister for Forests and Environment, inaugurated the programmes at 9.45 AM on 10 December 2007 in the Seminar Hall, School of International Relations and Politics. Dr. Jancy James, Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, presided over the function. Dr. K.M.Seethi, Director, School of International Relations and Politics welcomed the gathering. Sri.M.R. Unni, Registrar, MG University, offered felicitations. Sri. Regikumar proposed a vote of thanks.  The symposium on “Indigenous Peoples” was moderated by Dr. A.M. Thomas. Dr. Rajan Gurukkal, Sri. Sunny Kapikkad, Sri. Dileep Raj, Dr.M.Gangadharan and Dr. A.K.Ramakrishnan spoke. Sri. Thomas Mohan proposed a vote of thanks.

 

 

Sri. Binoy Viswam, Minister for Forests and Environment being received in SIRP….

 

 

 

 

 

Sri. Binoy Viswam…chatting with faculty

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sri. Binoy Viswam writes in the visitors book..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. K.M.Seethi welcomes the audience …..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jancy James, Vice Chancellor offers presidential address…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sri. Binoy Viswam inaugurates the programmes…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sri. M.R. Unni, Registrar, MG University felicitates…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sr.Regikumar proposes vote of thanks.

 

 

The first session ends…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering for Symposium…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr.A .M. Thomas

 

 

 

 

Dr.M.Gangadharan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sri. Dileep Raj

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Rajan Gurukkal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sri. Sunny Kapikkad

 

 

 

 

Dr. A.K. Ramakrishnan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mathew Kurian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. C. S. Menon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sri. Thomas Mohan proposes vote of thanks…

 

 

 

 

Trophies instituted by the School for the best speaker on Human Rights Day

 

 

 

 

 

Sri. Pallavi, Medical College, Kottayam, receives the rolling trophy from the Minister

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sri. Binoy Viswam inaugurates the Painting exhibition “Breaking the Long Silence”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Behind the curtain…..