Indigenous Unity: Advocates from Cambodia, Guyana and Kenya Connect
By Danielle Anthony and Kai Stuckey
The challenges facing Indigenous Peoples around the world often go unnoticed. This article follows three Indigenous leaders who’ve dedicated their lives to changing that: 39-year-old Sokunthea Nun, President of the Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association, 28-year-old Rosemarie Ramitt from the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), and 38-year-old Kenyan advocate, Christine Kandie, who serves as the Executive Director of the Endorois Indigenous Women Empowerment Network (EIWEN).
In April of 2024, Mr. Nun, Ms. Ramitt, and Ms. Kandie were invited to address the twenty-third session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). The theme for this year’s session was Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination and the role Indigenous young people play in furthering that goal. United by a common cause, the UNPFII gathering marked the first opportunity to bridge geographic gaps between their respective Indigenous communities and advocate for Indigenous Peoples globally. As Mr. Nun from Cambodia said, “here is limited space for us as Indigenous Peoples to share our thoughts and to speak on our issues. The chance to speak on a recognized global platform for the first time -- representing my Indigenous community and our alliance with other Indigenous communities -- was a great opportunity to share valuable experiences and perspectives.”
Later, at a side event facilitated by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and EIWEN, all three Indigenous leaders joined together for a panel discussion. Representing Guyana, panellist Ms. Ramitt, a young Indigenous woman with a visual disability from Guyana, shared similar feelings about speaking at the United Nations. She explained, “Participating as a speaker in a side event at the UNPFII with the support of IFES provided me with an opportunity to highlight the important role of young Indigenous people with disabilities in decision-making processes.”
Kenyan advocate, Ms. Kandie, an Indigenous woman with a physical disability, who serves as the Executive Director of EIWEN, added her own powerful voice to the conversation. In reflecting on this one-of-a-kind gathering of Indigenous voices, Ms. Kandie noted, “[The] inclusive work for our people with disabilities within our Indigenous communities is something that I realized is not only EIWEN, but the synergy has built up a momentum that we stand up for our constituency.”
Forging connections!
Together, the advocates shared their experiences navigating the unique barriers facing Indigenous Peoples every day. Referencing IFES’s global report, Engaging Indigenous Peoples in Elections, the panelists spoke about the importance of political participation and the need for collaboration on topics like human rights and environmental rights. They also dedicated time to discussing Indigenous persons who identify with more than one marginalized group, such as being an Indigenous person in addition to being a person with a disability. Ms. Ramitt noted, “Through the event, I could present the results from a Mapping of Young Indigenous People with Disabilities in Guyana project, while highlighting the need for an intersectional approach when working with groups that are doubly marginalized.”
The lively Q&A session concluded with Chairman Derrick John, of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) in Guyana, to support collaboration efforts with the GCOPD. As a champion of Indigenous rights, the NTC is a local government organization comprised of all the Toshaos (Indigenous leaders) that were elected to represent Amerindian villages across Guyana. Mr. John recognized, “The presence of our Guyanese partner offered valuable networking opportunities and facilitated collaboration with other Indigenous Peoples' Organizations and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in the Caribbean, fostering the exchange of experiences and recommendations on enhancing the civic and political participation of Indigenous Peoples in the region."
Through this IFES side event, Mr. Nun, Ms. Kandie, and Ms. Ramitt forged new connections across geographic regions to better the lives of all Indigenous Peoples. Such collective experiences underscore the significance of the UNFPII as well as other global Indigenous commemorations, such as International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. “The side event demonstrates IFES’ commitment to continuous collaboration with and support of Indigenous Peoples globally”, Mr. Nun acknowledged.
On April 23, 2024, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the United States Government, hosted its first-ever UNPFII side event, leading to impactful discussions under the theme, “Promoting UNDRIP Article 18 for Indigenous Youth Decision-Making.”
