Organization Profile: Greater Sylhet Indigenous Peoples Forum (GSIPF)
Overview
Established in 1997 and formally registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, the Greater Sylhet Indigenous Peoples Forum (GSIPF) stands as a pioneering institution in Bangladesh. It is the first and only regional indigenous-led
organization dedicated to the Northeastern frontier of the country. For nearly three decades, GSIPF has served as a steadfast guardian of the rights, identities, and heritage of the region’s diverse Indigenous Peoples.
Mission and Vision
The core mission of GSIPF is the recognition and protection of Indigenous rights, traditions, and ancestral lands. The organization operates on the fundamental principle that self-determination is the essential precondition for ensuring Indigenous communities maintain permanent sovereignty, ownership, and sustainable management of their territories.
Objectives and Goals
The Greater Sylhet Indigenous Peoples Forum (GSIPF) is dedicated to the realization of a just, participatory, and sustainable society. We envision a future where every individual lives with dignity and self-respect, flourishing in harmony with their environment while enjoying equitable access to resources and the benefits of development. Acting as a vital catalyst, GSIPF works to ensure the active participation of Indigenous Peoples in the pursuit of their self-determination and the full realization of their fundamental human rights.
Strategic Objectives
Networking: Building robust alliances with other national and regional Indigenous organizations to create a unified front for justice. Lobbying: Engaging with governmental and intergovernmental bodies to influence policy changes that favor the protection of ancestral lands and cultural heritage.
The organization’s current strategic focus is rooted in the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. GSIPF is actively engaged in Promoting International Standards.
Integrating the principles of international instruments into local and national frameworks.
Core Strategic Objectives
To achieve vision, GSIPF focuses on the following key operational areas:
Awareness and Advocacy:
GSIPF foster community consciousness through a multi-faceted approach, including individual outreach, community meetings, seminars, and international conferences and place a high value on cultural heritage, utilizing festivals and
traditional programs to strengthen indigenous identity.
Education and Language:
The organization is committed to preserving indigenous heritage by implementing primary education programs delivered in mother-tongue languages, ensuring that the next generation remains connected to their roots while gaining essential literacy.
Economic Empowerment and Women’s Rights:
GSIPF strive to uplift the living standards of the economically marginalized, with a specific focus on women. By facilitating micro-enterprise activities, and provide the tools necessary for financial independence and resilience.
Environmental Stewardship:
Recognizing the intrinsic link between indigenous communities and nature, GSIPF promote awareness regarding environmental protection and the sustainable management of natural resources.
Preservation of Indigenous Industries:
GSIPF actively work to strengthen village crafts and indigenous small-scale industries, protecting traditional livelihoods from being lost to modern industrialization.
Legal Rights Protection:
Through a specialized panel of lawyers, the organisation provides essential legal support to defend indigenous land rights and address systemic injustices.
Research and Documentation:
We are establishing a dedicated Training, Research, and Documentation Centre to archive indigenous knowledge, track human rights trends, and provide evidence-based advocacy.
Networking and Mediation:
GSIPF serves as a strategic bridge, acting as an intermediary between the Government of Bangladesh and indigenous grassroots groups. We engage in micro-level networking to ensure that community-specific issues are elevated to national and international platforms.
Core Pillars of Activity
Core Activities and Programmatic Focus
Campaign and Advocacy
GSIPF supports grassroots struggles by amplifying Indigenous voices through strategic campaigns at national, regional, and international levels.
GSIPF engages in high-level advocacy aimed at systemic policy reform. Our efforts are focused on:
Land Rights Recognition: Challenging existing frameworks to secure formal recognition of ancestral indigenous lands. Policy Sensitization: Educating national policymakers and international agencies on the root causes of indigenous marginalization.
Human Rights Monitoring: Maintaining a routine and rigorous vigil over human rights violations. We serve as a reporting bridge, bringing local grievances to the attention of the national government and the international community.
Training and Capacity Building
By empowering individuals and collectives, the organization ensures that Indigenous communities have the tools to exercise their rights effectively.
GSIPF believe that empowerment begins with knowledge and training programs are designed to:
Intensify Rights Awareness: Equipping indigenous leaders with the tools to confidently claim and defend their constitutional and inherent rights.
Strengthen Traditional Governance: Providing technical and logistical support to traditional decision-making bodies. This enables communities to engage effectively with outside agencies while regaining sovereign control over their natural resources.
Research and Documentation
GSIPF serves as a repository of indigenous knowledge and struggle. Our research initiatives include:
Struggle Documentation: Recording and publicizing the history of indigenous movements to ensure their narratives are preserved for future generations.
Cultural Preservation: Supporting the protection of indigenous heritage through scholarly publications, workshops, and exhibitions that highlight the continued relevance of customary laws.
Legal Assistance Empowerment
Legal empowerment is a cornerstone of GSIPF’s works; it provides:
Direct Legal Aid: Active intervention in legal cases involving indigenous rights and land disputes.
Legal Literacy Training: Educating community leaders on contemporary laws, national policy papers, and international human rights instruments (such as UNDRIP). This training bridges the gap between traditional justice systems and
the modern legal landscape.
A dedicated Panel of Lawyers works actively under the GSIPF banner, providing vital legal assistance to protect communities from land dispossession and human rights violations.
Information Dissemination
GSIPF bridges the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous societies by raising awareness about the Indigenous movement and fostering a culture of mutual respect.
Organizational Structure
The Greater Sylhet Indigenous Peoples Forum (GSIPF) operates through a robust, two-tier governance framework designed to ensure both strategic oversight and grassroots representation.
Central Executive Council: As the primary governing body, the Central Executive Council is responsible for the overall administration and decision-making of the organization. To ensure inclusivity and a broad perspective, the council comprises 31 members drawn from a diverse range of Indigenous communities across the region.
Regional Committees: To maintain a strong local presence, GSIPF maintains two distinct regional committees covering the North and South of Greater Sylhet. These committees act as the primary link between the central leadership and the
specific needs of local indigenous settlements.
Advisory Council: The Executive Council is supported by an Advisory Council, a body of experts and elders who provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and assistance in formulating the organization’s long-term policies. GSIPF remains committed to a future where the Indigenous Peoples of Greater Sylhet can live with dignity, exercising full control over their cultural and geographical destiny.