Intern in Spring 2008: Isac Boman
Isac Boman is a trainee at the Åland Islands Peace Institute from 1 July to 24 August. Isac is studying Economics and Russian at Åbo Academy since autumn 2007 and was during autumn 2007 studying Russian in Ukraine. As a trainee Isac is working with the organising of the Alandic participation in a youth camp with the theme environmental and climat changes, that will be held in North Karelia 10-17 August. In june Isac was the assistant of an azeri-azerbaijan film team from the NGO Internews that made a film on the Åland Islands, in which the Paece Institute was included.
Intern in Summer 2008: Andreea Bolos
Andreea Bolos is studying the social sciences program at Uppsala University since January 2008. Until 4 July, she will work as an assistant / summer intern at the Åland Peace Institute to map and compile the self-government policy committee’s handling of issues concerning demilitarization during the period 1994 – 2007. Last summer, Andreea worked as a summer substitute at the Peace Institute and she has previously participated in camps and youth activities organized by the Peace Institute.
The Peace Institute at the Nordic Forum for Human Rights
This year’s “Human Rights days” took place in Luleå 13-14 November. Focus was on the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples. Almost 4000 people attended the forum that mainly took place in the “House of Culture” in a beautiful snowy Luleå in the North of Sweden. The Peace Institute was represented with three people. Director Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark was a speaker in several seminars, such as “Minority Representation in the Majority Society”, “Roleplay about the Duty and the Possibilities of the Authorities to Consult” and “Global Impact of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”. Guest researcher Rhodri Williams held a lecture on how the Guiding Principles for protection of internally displaced people can be used with regards to the exceptional vulnerability of indigenous people and minorities. Also researcher Petra Granholm participated, to gather information and make contacts during the days. Here you can read Petra’s personal reflection from this year’s “MR-dagar”.
Greenland voted for more independence
On 25 November 2008 an overwhelming majority of Greenlanders voted for more independence from Denmark. The referendum took place after Denmark and Greenland had established a Commission for the reorganisation of Greenland’s self-government in 2004. The “Grønland-dansk selvstyrelsekommission” was mandated to discuss an extended “home rule” for Greenland. The Commission submitted its report earlier this year, including a proposal for a law on Greenland’s self-government. The strengthening of self-government is met with support in both Nuuk and Copenhagen. With the positive outcome of the referendum in Greenland the legislative proposal on self-government will be discussed by the Danish parliament in February 2009 and a respective law is expected to enter into force in mid-2009. The extended self-government is based on the principle of self-determination under International Law and will leave the decision whether Greenland should be independent or remain part of the Danish kingdom to the people of Greenland. Another important change will be that Greenland’s “landsstyret” will be able to take over responsibilities concerning the criminal justice system and the administration of justice. As two unique island communities Åland and Greenland have many commonalities. Greenland is an integral part of the kingdom of Denmark since 1953 and was granted […]