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European Left campaigns for ILO 169

18.12.2016 - 03:00
(updated: 18.12.2016 - 11:33)

European Left Congress approved the Communist Party of Finland (SKP) motion on Indigenous rights.

The ILO 169 convention is the most important operative international law guaranteeing the rights of the indigenous peoples. 

- I consider it very important that a European political subject and a all European party with its 40 different left, red-green and communist member parties stands now  on the side of the indigenous people and the Saami from the North Europe. By approving the SKP motion EL demands the ratification of the ILO 169 convention, says chairman of the Communist Party of Finland and the initiator of the motion JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen

European left states that in many parts of the world indigenous people are unable to enjoy their fundamental human rights to the same degree as the rest of the population of the States within which they live, and that their laws, values, customs and perspectives are often been oppressed.

Chairperson Väisänen says that EL finds it highly important that the Saami people living in the Northern part of Europe in Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway must have their rights for language, culture and land as stated in the ILO 169 convention.

SKP motion states that the EL supports its member parties’ campaigns aiming Finnish Government to ratify the ILO 169 Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries.

 

 “Building Alliances: For a Europe of Solidarity”

is the motto of the 5thCongress of the Party of the European Left (EL) that just fia three day (16.-18.12.) Congress in Berlin.  223 delegates and over 100 international guests and speakers took part in the Congress that united European left, red green and communists’ forces.

The Party of the European Left was created in May 2004, in Rome, and is currently composed of 40 member parties and observers from the alternative left in Europe. The EL is grew with Berlin congress with 8 new parties.

EL has now a renewed direction and well known German politician Gregor Gysi as its new chairman. EL has also a new reinforced structure with a so called political secretariat to give a quicker political response to a Europe in which the changes hasten, and a roadmap that will mark the political focus for the next three years.

The EL Congress addressed important issues such as the creation of a broad left-wing front to stand against fascism and the far-right, the fight against tax evasion and the rupture with the negotiations of TTIP, TISA and CETA. The EL stands for a Europe that allows people to take control over economic choices, advocates equal rights for all, dignified welcome and a policy to help migrants and refugees, a Europe that works for peace and not for war or fear.

European Forum

In Berlin approved EL political document presents an idea to all the available forces, in Europe, to build an annual political forum, open to all the political, democratic and progressive forces. This Forum would enhance the realization of common struggles as well as set up a balance of power in Europe. It shall be open, plural and participative, with movements and intellectuals, towards a Marxist and feminist work program for convergence.

-  I think it should be called the U-Forum. U standing for unity, says chairman of the Communist Party of Finland and member of the EL Executive Board JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen

Read here the speech of the chairman of the Communist Party of Finland, JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen presenting the motion to the EL Congress

 

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