Presentation of Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture Programme at UN in Geneva (side event of HRC30)

1. PROMOTING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ CULTURAL RIGHTS
Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture As Example
September 21, 2015
Geneva, United Nations
Oliver Loode (Member, UNPFII)

2. Finno-Ugric Peoples
• 20+ Finno-Ugric and Samoyedic peoples (most are indigenous)
• Common language roots; shared identity as kindred peoples

3. Finno-Ugric Movement
1st Finno-Ugric Cultural Congress held in
1921 in Helsinki, Finland
World Congresses of Finno-Ugric
Peoples held every 4 years since 1992
Diverse academic and cultural exchanges
Day of Kindred Finno-Ugric Peoples’ (3rd
Saturday in October)
Youth Association of Finno-Ugric Peoples
(MAFUN)

4. Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture
Initiated by MAFUN in 2013 to
Stimulate local development in Finno-
Ugric regions
Strengthen common Finno-Ugric identity
Raise awareness of Finno-Ugric peoples,
languages and movement
Excludes administrative capitals of
states and federal regions (in Russia)
Launched for 4-year cycle (2014-2017)

5. Geographic Rotation
Objective: to cover all 4 regions in 4 years

6. Expectations from Title-Holder
Hold at least 12 official programme
projects (events) in a year
One flagship event with potential to
mobilize entire Finno-Ugric world
Active communication / PR throughout
the year
Sustainable approach

7. Title-holders


2014: Bygy
(Udmurtia,
Russian
Federation)
2015: Obinitsa
(Setomaa,
Estonia)
2016:
Iszkaszentgyörgy
and Veszprém
(Hungary)

8. Key Strengths
Local impact: Title-holders have gained
tangible benefits (incl cultural, economic,
civic) and self-confidence
Youth-driven: initiated and overseen by
Finno-Ugric youth association MAFUN
Kindredness of languages as a basis for
dialogue, cultural exchanges, realization of
cultural rights

9. Thank you!
Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture
info@uralic.org
WWW.URALIC.ORG