Binalakshmi at New York for UN meet
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 13 2016 : Also known as 'Face and Voice of Northeast India' and recipient of International Sean Mcbride Peace Prize and CNN IBN Real Heroes Award, Binalakshmi Nepram who is also first Manipuri woman to address the United Nations, left New Delhi for New York to attend the ongoing United Nations Permanent Forum for indigenous issues held at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The forum began on May 9 and will go on till May 20 .

Binalakshmi Nepram is scheduled to speak on the theme of indigenous people's movement including the current issue for indigenous land protection in Manipur and other parts of India's Northeast region, other rights violation which are being done in the region which is home to 272 beautiful indigenous communities and the mitigation that extraordinary indigenous women of Manipur and other Northeast States are engaging to bring peace and reduce conflict.

In a statement issued upon her arrival in New York to attend the UN forum on Indigenous People's Issues, Binalakshmi said, "Indigenous people have suffered from historical injustices and dispossessed of their lands, territories and resources.

90% of India's Northeast region including Manipur, home to 45 million people belong to indigenous communities.

For over 60 years violence, ethnic killings, distrust, imposition of military laws such as AFSPA have marred relations of various indigenous communities in the region.

It is time that we wake up and address our issues collectively including current demands of demilitarizing Manipur and India's Northeast region, repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 and protection of Manipur people's lands and rights.

What we are doing is to deepen democracy, ensure prevalence of rule of law and also call upon all ethnic communities to come together and address issues in an inclusive and just manner and advocate and fight for our rights collectively together" .

UNDRIP is an important standard for the treatment of indigenous peoples that is a significant tool towards eliminating human rights violations against the planet's 370 million indigenous people and assisting them in combating discrimination, marginalization & gender based violence against indigenous women.

Over 1000 indigenous people from all over the world are attending the historic 15th UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Binalakshmi Nepram is due to host an event and deliver three other speeches while in New York.

The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was established in July 2000 to discuss indigenous issues and later in 2007, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted to protect indigenous people living in different parts of the globe.

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