Digital Intern in Spring 2021: Tesfaye Ayalew Mekonen
Tesfaye Ayalew Mekonen is doing a remote, digital internship at the Åland Islands Peace Institute from December 2020 to February 2021. He is originally from Ethiopia, but currently he is in Australia doing a Master of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland. He holds a Master of Law (LL.M) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Laws (LL.B). In recent years he has been teaching public law at the College of Law, Debre Berhan University, as well as providing pro bono legal aid services for disadvantaged individuals. He has been legal advisor for a government office engaged in land administration and a legal intern in the African Union Commission. At the Peace Institute, he will work with issues of identity, conflict management and multilevel governance in the African context, contribute through writings and seminars and assist in the development of new digital materials on conflict resolution.
Autonomy
Åland’s special position Åland is an autonomous province in Finland, consisting of about 6,500 islands and about 30,000 inhabitants. Åland belonged to Sweden until 1809 when it, together with the rest of Finland, became Russian. Strategically located Åland was demilitarized in 1856. In connection with Finland’s independence (1917), the League of Nations (1921) decided that Åland would not be reunited with Sweden as the people wanted, but that Åland should belong to Finland, but be self-governing and have guarantees for language and culture. At the same time, demilitarization was expanded and supplemented with neutralization. Several international decisions and agreements form the basis for Åland’s special position. Some are mentioned here: Decision of the League of Nations Council on Åland, 24 June 1921 Åland Agreement, 27 June 1921 In 1994, when Finland and Åland joined the EU, a special protocol on Åland was annexed to the Accession Treaty. Exceptions were accepted … “with regard to Åland’s special status under international law”. Autonomy Åland has the authority to enact its own laws in many areas and has its own parliament and government. The protection of self-government on Åland was one of the guarantees adopted by the League of Nations in 1921. […]
Demilitarisation & neutralisation
Åland must not be fortified and the right to a military presence within the demilitarised zone is strictly limited. Neutralisation is defined by Åland remaining neutral during all wartime operations. Convention on the Demilitarization of the Åland Islands, 1856: “… the Åland Islands shall not be fortified and that no military nor naval establishment shall be maintained or established there.” Convention on the Non-Fortification and Neutralisation of the Åland Islands, 1921
Protection of Minorities
Åland has a special, statutory protection for the Swedish language and culture. The protection of the language and culture of Åland was one of the guarantees adopted by the League of Nations in 1921. The protection is further developed in Åland’s Autonomy Act and other international and national legislation.
Links & Literature
Ålands lagting Ålands landskapsregering Ålands kulturstiftelse EURAC Autonomy Arrangements in the World Ålands kulturhistoriska museum