Defending Tamil Indigenous Rights: Lessons from Volker Türk’s EMRIP Address Introduction United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, in his 14 July 2025 address to the 18th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), highlighted vital principles and global trends in defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Tamil human rights defenders, professionals, political leaders, and the broader Tamil community can draw on these insights to bolster their international advocacy. Key themes from the High Commissioner’s speech – notably the right to self-determination and the principle of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) – resonate strongly with the Tamil people’s struggle in Sri Lanka for equality, security, and autonomy. This report distills those principles, examines good practices and ongoing challenges in Indigenous rights protection worldwide, and suggests actionable strategies to advance the Tamil people’s right to self-determina...

Black July 1983: Tamil Genocide in Sri Lanka  July 14, 2025:  Black July refers to a week of brutal anti-Tamil riots in Sri Lanka from late July 1983, which the Tamil community regards as an act of genocide. Over several days, Sinhalese mobs—often aided by elements of the state—attacked minority Tamil civilians, killing thousands, raping women, and burning homes and businesses. These events sparked Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war and a mass exodus of Tamils, leaving an enduring legacy of trauma and impunity. This dossier provides a detailed timeline of the violence, analyzes its causes and consequences, and reviews the international response, highlighting gross human rights violations and the ongoing need for justice. Timeline of Events (Black July 1983) July 23, 1983 (Saturday): In northern Sri Lanka, Tamil militants of the LTTE ambush an army patrol near Jaffna, killing 13 Sinhalese soldiers. News of this attack enrages the armed forces. That night and into the early hou...