Congratulations to Gam A. Shimray on his appointment as Asia’s Representative to EMRIP

Chiang Mai | April 2, 2026

The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) extends its warmest congratulations to Mr. Gam Awungshi Shimray on his appointment as Asia’s representative to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) for the term 2026–2029. The appointment was announced by the UN Human Rights Council on March 31.

Mr. Shimray served two terms as Secretary General and currently serves as a Board Members of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), an organization accredited with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) international Board members – a global organisation dedicated to promoting and defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights. He  has extensive expertise in international human rights standards, particularly those related to Indigenous Peoples. With over 25 years of direct engagement at the UN, he has developed deep knowledge on UNDRIP, ILO Convention 169, the International Human Rights Covenants, and related instruments.

Mr. Shimray’s expertise is both technical and practical. He has trained leaders, guided legal and policy analyses, and supported communities in effectively using UN and regional mechanisms to defend their rights. These experiences demonstrate how instruments and mechanisms like EMRIP can translate UNDRIP into practical, accessible, and impacful change.

AIPP expresses its confidence that Mr. Shimray will bring valuable expertise and insight to the work of EMRIP, including in its mandate to provide the Human Rights Council with technical advice on the development and implementation of policies and programmes relating to the rights of Indigenous Peoples, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

AIPP takes this opportunity to express its pride in his achievement and conveys its best wishes for his success in fulfilling this important mandate, including in promoting inclusive, meaningful, and effective engagement with Indigenous Peoples.

Sincerely,
Pallab Chakma,
Secretary General of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact

Click here to download the full congratulatory statement