FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Joint NGO Statement to 62nd UN Human Rights Council Exposes Ongoing Human Rights and Security Crises Facing Tamils in Sri Lanka

Joint NGO Statement to 62nd UN Human Rights Council Exposes Ongoing Human Rights and Security Crises Facing Tamils in Sri Lanka

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, June 2026— ABC Tamil Oli and the Association Bharathi Centre Culturel Franco-Tamoul have formally submitted a joint written statement to the 62nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), drawing urgent international attention to the severe and ongoing human rights, social, and security challenges enduringly faced by the Tamil population in Sri Lanka.

The official submission, recorded under document number A/HRC/62/NGO/20, provides a comprehensive overview of the systemic crises that continue to disproportionately impact Tamil communities in the North and East of the island.

The joint statement highlights several critical areas of concern, urging the international community to take immediate and decisive action:

●       Ongoing Military Occupation: The statement details the continued heavy militarization of traditional Tamil homelands. This persistent military presence not only disrupts daily civilian life but also facilitates ongoing land appropriations, stifling local economic development and community rebuilding efforts.

●       Targeting of Vulnerable Women: A focal point of the submission is the precarious situation of Tamil women, particularly war widows and female-headed households. The organizations highlight alarming patterns of targeted harassment, exploitation, and intimidation by security forces, exacerbating their social and economic vulnerabilities.

●       Impunity and International Accountability: Decades after the end of the armed conflict, the statement underscores the complete failure of domestic mechanisms to deliver justice. The NGOs strongly reiterate the demand for robust international accountability measures to address past mass atrocities and war crimes, stressing that true reconciliation is impossible without ending the entrenched culture of impunity.

●       Economic Instability: The submission further contextualizes these human rights violations within Sri Lanka's current economic crisis, noting that the Tamil population is facing severe marginalization. The collapse of the national economy has acutely worsened the living conditions of communities already devastated by war and occupation.

"The systemic oppression and daily security threats faced by the Tamil people have not ceased; they have simply taken new forms under the shadow of economic crisis and military overreach," the organizations stated. "We call upon the member states of the Human Rights Council to move beyond rhetoric and implement concrete international mechanisms to ensure accountability, protect vulnerable populations, and demilitarize the North and East."

ABC Tamil Oli and the Association Bharathi Centre Culturel Franco-Tamoul urge human rights defenders, international policymakers, and the global media to review the findings and recommendations detailed in the submission.

The full written statement (A/HRC/62/NGO/20) is publicly accessible and can be downloaded through the United Nations Official Document System (ODS).

About ABC Tamil Oli & Association Bharathi Centre Culturel Franco-Tamoul:

ABC Tamil Oli and the Association Bharathi Centre Culturel Franco-Tamoul are non-governmental organizations dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights, cultural heritage, and social justice for the Tamil diaspora and the Tamil population in Sri Lanka.

Media Contact:

Boscomm@gmail.com  |  tamilolicanada@gmail.com

     In solidarity,

     Wimal Navaratnam

     Human Rights Defender |Independent Researcher | ABC Tamil Oli              (ECOSOC)

      Email: tamilolicanada@gmail.com

Intended audience and use Audience: Policymakers, international legal bodies, human rights investigators, forensic researchers, advocacy organizations, and affected communities. 

Use: Executive Summary and timeline for rapid briefing; consolidated legal framework for legal assessment; appendices for source verification and methodological transparency.