Oral Statement: Human Rights Council - Item 5
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Ninth session. Item 7 – Future Work of the Permanent Forum, including issues of the Economic and Social Council and Emerging issues
New York, 19-30 April 2010
Arameans (Syriacs) as the Indigenous People of the Middle East:
Identity Endangered and Existence Denied in Turkey
Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
Shlomo 'al kulkhu! Greetings to all of you, as we say in our Aramaic mother tongue! We thank the Members of this Forum, including the Honourable Chairperson and the Rapporteur, for this most successful Indigenous Forum.
WCA to International Community: "Condemn the actions of the PYD/YPG"
On Tuesday 17 September 2019, the WCA urged the International Community to condemn the actions of the Kurdish PYD/YPG. WCA's Director for UN Affairs, Ms. Sarah Bakir, delivered her statement in front of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria during the 42nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
WCA highlights underreported cases before Commission of Inquiry on Syria
On 13 March 2018, WCA again interacted with the Commission of Inquiry at the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council. This time putting emphasis on those cases which have been greatly neglected by the international community.
Oral Statement: Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues - Item 3 of the provisional agenda
Discussion of the special theme for the year “Indigenous peoples: development with culture and identity: articles 3 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”
Arameans as the Indigenous People of the Middle East: Identity Endangered and Existence Denied in Turkey
Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
Shlomo ‘al kulkhu! Greetings to all of you, as we say in our Aramaic mother tongue!
WCA calls on UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria to Consider Underreported Aramean Issue in Next Report
On Tuesday 26 June 2018, WCA once again participated in the UN Human Rights Council session on Syria. WCA's Director for UN Affairs, Ms. Sarah Bakir, delivered the below statement (text and video), emphasizing underreported issues that require the Commission of Inquiry's attention.
Arameans demand inclusion in Syria peace process
On Tuesday 14 March 2017, the WCA participated in the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council. It delivered an oral statement to both the High-Level Panel Meeting on Syria and later during the Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. On behalf of the WCA, Mr. Jacob Harman stressed the ignored atrocities endured by Syria's native Arameans. Furthermore, he reiterated the need to include all Syrian groups and parties such as the Arameans to participate in the peace process to ensure its succes.
Scroll down to read and download the statement.
WCA brings Kidnapping and Oppression of Arameans in Northeast Syria by PYD-YPG Kurds to attention of UN Commission on Syria
On 23 September 2021, WCA President Johny Messo informed the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria about the ongoing oppression and kidnapping by the PYD/YPG Kurds of a prominent Aramean member of the Church Board in Qamishli, Northeast Syria, earlier this week. During this 48th regular session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the below oral statement was presented (text and video) .
WCA to Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues: Report on atrocities committed against Arameans
During the UN Human Rights Council session on 14 March 2018, WCA called on the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Mr. Fernand de Varennes, to report on the atrocities committed against the Arameans in Syria and Iraq. In addition, the statement contained recommendations to the UN Security Council and General Assembly, pertaining to the future survival of the Aramean people in their homeland.
WCA to UN: Arameans in Syria and Iraq on Brink of Extinction
On 18 September 2016, the WCA gave a statement in Geneva during the General Debate of the 33rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council. It emphasized that the indigenous Aramean people of Syria and Iraq are facing excintion and that the world needs to speak up and prevent such a humanitarian disaster from happening. The WCA Delegate Alexandra Tawaifi from Sweden presented the statement. The other WCA Delegates are Maria Manzano from Geneva and Jacob Harman from Sweden.
Alexandra Tawaifi delivering the statement of the WCA during the UN Human Rights Council General Debate under item 4.
The WCA Delegates Maria Manzano and Jacob Harman are seated behind Ms. Tawaifi.
