Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is an international membership organisation and global platform of solidarity committed to amplifying the voices of unrepresented Peoples and Nations securing their equal participation on the world stage and safeguarding their fundamental rights.

Founded in 1991 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, on principles of nonviolence and interethnic tolerance, UNPO was established by and for those excluded from, or repressed by, international and national decision-making processes. Since its founding, UNPO has worked to support silenced voices, build solidarity between communities, and defend the right to self-determination as a foundation for peace, justice, and inclusive governance.

The UNPO is the sole international membership organisation working to develop an understanding of and respect for the collective rights of peoples, including their right of political participation and representation, and self-determination as a cornerstone of peaceful and inclusive societies.

The organisation represents over 39 unrepresented nations and peoples from Indigenous peoples, minority communities, occupied or stateless nations, and unrecognised communities whose collective right to self-determination has been limited. Globally, UNPO represents more than 300 million individuals from around the world who remain committed to peace, democracy and human rights.

In order to effectively raise the voice of its members, the organisation also functions as a bridge between unrepresented communities and international, regional, and national actors, including intergovernmental organizations, diplomatic institutions, civil society, academic institutions, and the general public. The organization provides a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and coordinated advocacy. Since its founding, UNPO has grown from its original fifteen founding members to a diverse global membership encompassing over 39 communities across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Some former members, including Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Georgia, East Timor, and Palau, left the organization after achieving statehood or increased international recognition. UNPO has also played a key role in supporting members toward other significant outcomes, including peace agreements in Nagalim and the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), and the 2019 Bougainville independence referendum. Beyond such outcomes, UNPO defines success more broadly as enhanced political capacity, sustained international visibility, strengthened community, and increased participation of unrepresented peoples in diplomatic and policy processes, regardless of constitutional status.