This is the second part of a two-chapter episode of the Bur'yan podcast, dedicated to the critical approaches to human rights discourse and major international law institutions. After discussing the historical and political context of the establishment of international law in its contemporary form in the first part of the talk, we shift to today’s realities and personal experiences of our speakers.
Russia, leveraging its permanent Security Council member status with a veto right, uses international law platforms to lobby its interests and promote state propaganda. That includes denial of indigenous peoples’ struggles and human rights violations both within its internationally recognised borders and in occupied Ukrainian lands.
Viliuia Choinova, activist from the Sakha Republic, and Suleiman Mamutov, activist from Crimea, share stories of advocacy for their peoples’ rights and, more broadly, reflections on the contemporary state of international law institutions. Selbi Durdiyeva adds her observations on inequalities embedded in the very core of international law structures, and on hope as a political emotion that gives resources to fight back.
Our speakers address the threats and repressions faced by indigenous peoples. They discuss what actions can still be taken within the current realities and explore the possibilities that international law institutions offer for building solidarity and finding support despite various obstacles. Often, this support comes from other indigenous groups and their representatives.
For the detailed discussion on all of these topics and much more — listen to the episode!
Speakers:
Suleiman Mamutov, expert at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, legal adviser of Amnesty International Ukraine.
Viliuia Choinova, environmental engineer and Sakha activist from the Republic of Sakha.
Selbi Durdiyeva, socio-legal researcher with focus on transitional justice and decolonisation, the author of a monograph, 'The Role of Civil Society in Transitional Justice: The Case of Russia' published by Routledge in 2024.
Moderated by Lilia Yuldasheva, queer and decolonial researcher and activist.
Chapters:
00:00 — Intro
01:40 — Today’s realities of the indigenous struggle in the international law organizations
07:17 — Advocacy for indigenous peoples' rights: experiences of our guests
30:08 — Views on reforming and dismantling the hierarchies within the UN and other international law organizations
45:50 — Outro
If you like what we are doing and you want to support us, please subscribe to Beda’s Patreon or support us via Crypto