Geneva, 27 November 2026 — Roza Dunajeva, Human Rights Commissioner of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, is scheduled to address an international discussion on minority protection and human rights at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The discussion, organized by COJEP International, is entitled “From Europe to Chechnya and Palestine: Human Rights, Minority Protection and International Responsibility.” It will take place on Friday, 27 November 2026, from 09:00 to 10:00 (Geneva time) in Room Concordia 1, alongside the 19th United Nations Forum on Minority Issues.
The event is listed in the official United Nations Indico programme of Forum side events. It is a civil-society event organized by COJEP International, rather than a plenary session of the UN Forum or an official statement by the United Nations.
Chechen human rights on the international agenda
According to the organizers’ announcement and event poster, Dunajeva will speak about the situation of the Chechen people. Her participation places Chechen human rights concerns in a wider discussion involving communities from Europe, Palestine, the Balkans, the western Caucasus and the Uyghur diaspora.
Dunajeva, whose surname is also transliterated as Dunayeva, has been identified as the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria’s Human Rights Commissioner in earlier reporting by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her human-rights work has included advocacy concerning the treatment of Chechen refugees and people at risk of deportation.
Speakers and themes
The event poster names Gülden Sönmez on Palestine, Hilal Koçali on minorities in Europe, Roza Dunajeva on Chechnya, Erdem Eren on Turkish minorities in the western Caucasus and the Balkans, and Abdurahman Tohti on the Uyghur minority. The accompanying announcement also identifies Celil Yilmaz as moderator. Speaker names and descriptions are drawn from organizers’ materials; the UN programme confirms the side event but does not independently list its speakers.
In its accompanying statement, COJEP International also describes a proposal to develop a long-term platform for cooperation among advocates of human rights and minority communities. The organizers envisage four meetings a year: three in connection with sessions of the UN Human Rights Council and one alongside the annual Forum on Minority Issues. This remains an organizational proposal, not an announced programme of the United Nations.
The 19th UN Forum on Minority Issues
The 19th session of the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues will be held on 26–27 November 2026 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva under the theme “Advancing minority rights through regional initiatives and cooperation.”
For Ichkerian human-rights advocates, the COJEP side event offers an opportunity to bring the situation of the Chechen people before an international audience, while building connections with other communities seeking stronger protections. Its inclusion in the UN side-event schedule should not be understood as diplomatic recognition of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria by the United Nations.
