Hi Friends!
We have some incredible news!
In 2017, the West Papuan people instructed the ULMWP to hand the West Papuan People's Petition to the UN Decolonisation Committee, the UN Human Rights Council, and the UN General Assembly. In 2017, the petition was independently handed to the UN Decolonisation Committee.
On Friday 25th January 2019, with state level support from the Vanuatu Government, Chairman of the ULMWP, Benny Wenda, met with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet and officially submitted the Petition, taking another giant stride towards freedom.
"On behalf of the West Papuan people, I can state that the West Papuan People’s Petition, carrying the voices of 1.8 million West Papuans, has been officially handed to the UN High Commissioner."
- Benny Wenda
Benny described the meeting as
"A great moment of victory"
for the West Papuan self-determination struggle.
PETITION FACTS
The West Papuan People's Petition to the United Nations was hand-signed by around 70% of the West Papuan population across several months in 2017.
That's a staggering 1.8 million people
The petition was banned across Indonesia and West Papua. Despite banning the petition, confusingly, the Indonesian Government also denied its existence.
West Papuans were threatened with arrest, torture, and death if they signed the petition.
The petition resulted in the arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of key West Papuan activists. Local leader of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Yanto Awerkion, was imprisoned for eight months without access to a fair trial as is his fundamental right.
Submitting the petition to the High Commissioner for Human Rights is a huge step forward for West Papua and towards the ultimate goal of securing an Internationally-Supervised Vote for independence.
Can you help us continue making history?
We are always so grateful for any financial contributions our supporters may be able to give.
Financial contributions and regular donations are the most effective way of ensuring the Free West Papua Campaign and the ULMWP can continue their essential work and #FREEWESTPAPUA!
If you would like to donate please click the button below.
Thank you so much for your continued solidarity
Papua Merdeka!