Celebrating Beauty in Harmony, Destiny in Unity
UNITED SIKHS Commends United Nations (UN) Action 21 Review, and Recommends Commitment to Greater Participation of Women and Children in All Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Processes
UNITED SIKHS has formally submitted recommendations to the United Nations Peace Operations Review Team, urging that all future peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions under the Pact for the Future place the protection and empowerment of women and children at their very core.
Prepared by Wanda Sánchez Day, Esq. (Chief Legal Officer, UNITED SIKHS) and Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Ph.D., Esq., the submission highlights that women and young people must not be seen as passive beneficiaries of peace, but as central architects of sustainable and just societies.
“Peace operations cannot succeed if women and children remain at the margins. They must be recognized as agents of change and included in every phase of peacebuilding,” said Wanda Sánchez Day.
Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Ph.D., Esq. is an international human rights attorney with over 20 years of experience in global advocacy, currently serving as Chair of the United Nations Committee of the New York City Bar Association. She leads the Subcommittee on Ukraine, focusing on the displacement of women and children, unlawful deportations, and humanitarian access amid the Russian occupation. Her work spans UN documentation, minority rights, and international law, contributing directly to recommendations under the PACT framework. She stressed in the submission to the UN that women currently comprise only 10% of UN uniformed peacekeeping personnel, with even fewer in leadership roles. Professor Murashkovsky Romma stated that “without correcting this imbalance, peace processes risk being incomplete and unsustainable. The future of peace lies in inclusive, community-driven solutions. By centering women, children, and civil society, the United Nations can finally bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality,” said Professor Murashkovsky Romma.
UNITED SIKHS also reaffirmed its commitment to support UN operations directly by providing:
UNITED SIKHS, rooted in Sikh principles of equality and justice, has worked globally since 1999 on education, civil rights advocacy, and disaster relief and humanitarian aid. This submission is part of its ongoing mission to advocate for the most vulnerable and to advance peace through inclusion, dignity, and justice.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Email: contact@unitedsikhs.org
Gurleen Kaur, Community PR & Media Advocate, gurleen.kaur@unitedsikhs.org
DIFF: Every filmmaker or artist has a signature style. What would you say defines yours?
Sophia: My signature style is defined by a blend of psychological realism and metaphysical theatricality. I explore deep human emotions and complex personal histories, but I refrain from confining myself to a purely linear, realistic narrative. In Used and Borrowed Time, I use a "phantasmagorical" style to transport the protagonist, a blind, elderly Jewish actress, into her past. This allows me to explore themes of memory and trauma in a non-traditional way. Similarly, in Poor Liza, I expose a classic 18th-century Russian story through the lens of a ghostly narrator. My use of Quantum Verse in dialogue is also a defining element, adding a philosophical layer to the character's speech that questions the nature of reality itself, the human condition and spirituality.
DIFF: Was there a specific moment when the idea for this project lit up in your mind?
Sophia: For Used and Borrowed Time, the idea ignited when I was researching the civil rights era in segregated Alabama and came across the historical accounts of racism and violence. I was particularly struck by a sadistic racist incident which was relayed to me by a Chef extraordinaire while embarking upon a long Amtrak ride with my grandmother from New York to Florida. The gentleman recounted a horrific tale of an incident that occured in his cousin's young life, while he was living in Birmingham in the 1960's. Hence, I decided to shed light on this terrifying ordeal that would not only expose this historical tyranny but also explore the tyrannical cost of hatred and forbidden love. It was a fusion of a real-life historical event coupled with my own artistic desire to explore memory as a living, breathing entity.
For Poor Liza, the inspiration came directly from Nikolai Karamzin's classic Russian sentimentalist novella. I was fascinated by the timelessness of the story—the betrayal of an innocent peasant girl by a cunning aristocrat. The idea was to bring this tragic tale to a modern audience, using a ghostly narrator to give it a novel, supernatural and dramatic perspective that highlights the enduring cruelty of class systems.
DIFF: What is your approach to storytelling, and how do you go about creating the perfect mood board to support your vision?
Sophia: My approach is to paint cinematic stories that are both emotionally raw and intellectually stimulating. I commence with a powerful, often uncomfortable truth, central idea—like the devastating impact of racial hatred in Used and Borrowed Time or the tragic class divide in Poor Liza. From there, I build a world that is not just a setting but a character in itself.
My mood boards are not merely visual; they are sensory and thematic. For Used and Borrowed Time, the mood board included not only photos from the 1960s civil rights movement but also textures of old lace and worn velvet, images of faded photographs, and snippets of spiritual African American hymns to capture the feeling of memory and nostalgia. For Poor Liza, the board was a collage of 18th-century Russian paintings and architecture but also included contemporary fashion and music to create a sense of timelessness. I am much less concerned with literal representation and more with capturing the emotional and otherworldly existential atmosphere of the film. My mentors have been Spike Lee (at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts) and Tony nominated playwright, Colonel Leslie Lee as well as the Artistic Director of the Negro Ensemble Company, the late great Charles Weldon and therefore, I am very atune to intolerance and bigotry which permeates our society. Furthermore, I am also a disciple of La MaMa Experimental Theatre where I worked closely with Ellen Steward (MaMa) for ten years and had three of my plays produced which dealt with themes of immigration, assimilation and dislocations of souls.
DIFF: How do you think the film industry has changed since you first started? What opportunities or challenges do you think aspiring filmmakers face today?
Sophia: The most significant change is the democratization of filmmaking. When I began, a project required a massive infrastructure and significant funding from traditional sources. Now, with more accessible technology and distribution platforms, filmmakers can create high-quality work and reach a global audience with unprecedented ease. This creates incredible opportunities for independent artists to tell their unique stories without compromise, however, at the same time, the myriad streaming platforms and the use of one's phone to shoot scenes has rather bastardized an industry which boasted the signature gold age allure of soft sin in focus and unveiled the mesmerizing appeal of celluloid (the 35mm) kind. There exists now a major challenge: market saturation. The sheer volume of content renders it difficult for a film to stand out. Aspiring filmmakers must be fiercely creative not only in their storytelling but also in their marketing and self-promotion. They have to be both artists and entrepreneurs, mastering the technical aspects of filmmaking as well as the business of finding an audience.
DIFF: If you could offer one word of advice to future generations of artists, what would it be?
Sophia: Fearlessness.
Fearlessness means not being afraid to tell the stories you feel compelled to tell, even if they are difficult, controversial, or non-conformist. It is about being true to your artistic voice and not letting the fear of failure or rejection impede you from creating. Both Used and Borrowed Time and Poor Liza explore uncomfortable unwavering truths which are lamentable, and it was my fearlessness as an artist that granted me the sheer gall to bring them to the silver screen.
DIFF: What has this project taught you about yourself—as an artist and as a person?
Sophia: Making Used and Borrowed Time taught me about the enduring power of art to heal. As an artist, I learned that exploring painful historical events through a personal and spiritual lens can create a dialogue that transcends time and helps us understand the present. As a person, it reinforced my belief in empathy and the necessity of confronting history to forge a better future. As an international human rights attorney, I am dedicated to fostering and promoting the rule of law in civil society; this noble goal clearly resonates in my storytelling and directing. After all, my cinematic angle is not solely focused on pure entertainment; it is a moral responsibility equipped with an ethical compass. I feel deeply honored to have won the Master of Storytelling award for a film that tackles such a significant and complex subject matter.
Description:
Join us for a discussion on current human rights issues facing indigenous peoples throughout the Americas, with a particular focus on indigenous land rights.
Opening Remarks:
Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Ph.D., Esq., and a Board Member of the Baltic American Chamber of Commerce (BACC).
Speakers:
Ambassador José Francisco Calí Tzay, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, former Chair, United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Permanent Representative of Guatemala to the United Nations Office at Geneva, former Guatemalan Ambassador to Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, and Associate Director of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Human Rights Clinical Programs at the James E. Rogers College of Law at The University of Arizona
Alvaro Baca, expert on indigenous human rights, former Director of International Projects, Center for the Study of American Indian Law and Policy at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, and, legal advisor to an indigenous community in a lodged petition before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Dr. Lindsay Robertson, Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chair in Native American Law Emeritus at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, former Senior Legal Adviser to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Justice on the Supreme Court of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, and Private Sector Advisor to the U.S. Delegations to the Working Groups on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Diego A. Tituaña, Kichwa-Otavalo from Ecuador; elected member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for 2026-2028, former facilitator of the United Nations Resolution on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and former staff member of the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations from 2014-2019
Moderator:
Joel Pruett, Citizen, Cherokee Nation; Indigenous Human Rights Shadow Report Writer for the Republic of Suriname’s Universal Periodic Review Cycle Ended in 2016; Member, United Nations Committee; Member, Business & Human Rights Committee; Member, Inter-American Affairs Committee; Benesch
Sponsoring Committee:
United Nations, Ervin Nina & Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Co-Chairs
Co-Sponsoring Committees:
Business & Human Rights, Isabelle Glimcher & Isedua Oribhabor, Co-Chairs
Council on International Affairs, Margaret E. McGuinness, Chair
Inter-American Affairs, Jessenia Vazcones-Yagual, Chair
Join us for a thought-provoking webinar exploring the current human rights challenges facing Indigenous peoples across the Americas, with a special focus on land rights. This important conversation will feature leading voices in international law, diplomacy, and Indigenous advocacy.
Opening Remarks:
Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Ph.D., Esq.
Featured Speakers:
Moderator:
Joel Pruett, Citizen, Cherokee Nation; Member, United Nations Committee
Sponsoring Committee:
United Nations, Ervin Nina & Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Co-Chairs
Co-Sponsoring Committees:
Business & Human Rights, Isabelle Glimcher & Isedua Oribhabor, Co-Chairs
Council on International Affairs, Margaret E. McGuinness, Chair
Inter-American Affairs, Jessenia Vazcones-Yagual, Chair
Description:
Join us for a discussion on current human rights issues facing indigenous peoples throughout the Americas, with a particular focus on indigenous land rights.
Opening Remarks:
Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Ph.D., Esq., and a Board Member of the Baltic American Chamber of Commerce (BACC).
Speakers:
Ambassador José Francisco Calí Tzay, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, former Chair, United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Permanent Representative of Guatemala to the United Nations Office at Geneva, former Guatemalan Ambassador to Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, and Associate Director of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Human Rights Clinical Programs at the James E. Rogers College of Law at The University of Arizona
Alvaro Baca, expert on indigenous human rights, former Director of International Projects, Center for the Study of American Indian Law and Policy at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, and, legal advisor to an indigenous community in a lodged petition before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Dr. Lindsay Robertson, Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chair in Native American Law Emeritus at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, former Senior Legal Adviser to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Justice on the Supreme Court of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, and Private Sector Advisor to the U.S. Delegations to the Working Groups on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Diego A. Tituaña, Kichwa-Otavalo from Ecuador; elected member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for 2026-2028, former facilitator of the United Nations Resolution on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and former staff member of the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations from 2014-2019
Moderator:
Joel Pruett, Citizen, Cherokee Nation; Indigenous Human Rights Shadow Report Writer for the Republic of Suriname’s Universal Periodic Review Cycle Ended in 2016; Member, United Nations Committee; Member, Business & Human Rights Committee; Member, Inter-American Affairs Committee; Benesch
Sponsoring Committee:
United Nations, Ervin Nina & Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Co-Chairs
Co-Sponsoring Committees:
Business & Human Rights, Isabelle Glimcher & Isedua Oribhabor, Co-Chairs
Council on International Affairs, Margaret E. McGuinness, Chair
Inter-American Affairs, Jessenia Vazcones-Yagual, Chair
| Join us for a thought-provoking webinar exploring the current human rights challenges facing Indigenous peoples across the Americas, with a special focus on land rights. This important conversation will feature leading voices in international law, diplomacy, and Indigenous advocacy.Opening Remarks: Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Ph.D., Esq.Featured Speakers:Ambassador José Francisco Calí Tzay, Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Associate Director, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, University of ArizonaAlvaro Baca, Indigenous human rights expert and legal advisor before the Inter-American Commission on Human RightsDr. Lindsay Robertson, Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chair in Native American Law Emeritus, University of OklahomaDiego A. Tituaña, Kichwa-Otavalo from Ecuador and elected member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2026–2028)Moderator: Joel Pruett, Citizen, Cherokee Nation; Member, United Nations Committee Register Now |
| Sponsoring Committee: United Nations, Ervin Nina & Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Co-ChairsCo-Sponsoring Committees: Business & Human Rights, Isabelle Glimcher & Isedua Oribhabor, Co-Chairs Council on International Affairs, Margaret E. McGuinness, Chair Inter-American Affairs, Jessenia Vazcones-Yagual, Chair |
On July 11, 2025, just days before the FIFA Club World Cup final in New York, Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute, in cooperation with the Montreal Institute for Global Security (MIGS), hosted a landmark panel titled “Global Sports, Human Rights Violations and Available Remedies under International Law: The Case of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).”
The event brought together legal experts, journalists, and human rights defenders to explore how authoritarian regimes – particularly the UAE – use global sports to sanitize their international image while committing serious human rights violations at home and abroad.
Moderated by journalist Thymoté Pinon of L’Équipe and France Football (Paris), the discussion featured powerful testimony from victims of arbitrary detention and torture, legal critiques of the UAE’s repressive legislation, and a wider examination of the role international sports and business play in enabling “sportswashing.”
The Speakers and Panelists included:
MIGS played a key role in co-organizing the event and was represented on the panel by Dr. David Donat Cattin, Senior Fellow at MIGS and Adjunct Professor of International Law at NYU. Dr. Donat Cattin emphasized the urgent need to apply international legal principles to both state and private actors involved in global sports and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms beyond traditional UN frameworks.
The event was co-sponsored by MIGS, NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, the NYC Bar Association, AVAAZ.org, and student associations from Columbia and NYU.
To watch a full recording of the event, please click here.