Geneva, July 12, 2024 – Peace for Asia hosted a pivotal event titled “Minority Rights in South Asia” at Geneva, drawing attention to pressing issues faced by ethnic and sectarian communities in the region. The event featured distinguished speakers including Marc Finaud, Francesca Marino, Hau-Yu Tam, Ronan Lee, Paul Deeschemaeker, and Michael Lepper, who shared insights on human rights violations, international intervention, and the urgent need for enhanced refugee laws.
The event underscored the critical role of international institutions such as the UN and EU in conflict resolution and the formulation of humanitarian policies aimed at protecting persecuted minorities. Speakers highlighted the challenges faced by minority communities lacking international advocacy and diasporic support, placing them vulnerable to state repression and humanitarian crises.
Francesca Marino highlighted the plight of Baloch and Pashtun communities enduring prolonged state oppression without significant international attention or humanitarian aid. Hau-Yu Tam shared firsthand experiences as a community activist and councilor in the UK, addressing racial hostility and asylum application challenges faced by migrants.
Ronan Lee (Loughborough University) brought to light the ongoing Rohingya genocide in Myanmar, stressing the need for global attention and decisive action to address displacement and persecution. Marc Finaud, drawing from his extensive diplomatic background, reflected on necessary reforms in international refugee and migrant policies to effectively address these humanitarian crises.
The conference served as a critical platform for policymakers, legal experts, and activists to collaborate on actionable solutions within the human rights discourse. It aimed to foster meaningful dialogue and advance practical measures to protect vulnerable communities in South Asia and beyond.
