The Crimean Tatar Resource Center sent materials to the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) on the burial of Crimean Tatars in places of deportation, which will be used in preparing a report on “Repatriation of ceremonial objects and human remains under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In early March 2020, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center launched the campaign “Unutylmagan kabirler”, aimed at collecting and systematizing information about the burial sites of our ancestors in the places of deportation. The information collected was included in the materials that the CTRC sent to EMRIP.
In particular, in the document, the CTRC recommends the states of Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan in cooperation with the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and the Crimean Tatar Resource Center and in accordance with Part 2 of Article 12 of the UNDRIP to gather information, conduct an inventory checking of burials, create a register, ensure their preservation on the lands, and also develop a mechanism for the return of the remains of deported Crimean Tatars to their homeland in Crimea.
“In accordance with Articles 2, 3, 4, 30 of the UNDRIP, the Russian Federation is obliged to stop the temporary illegal occupation of the Crimean Peninsula, the homeland of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people, as one of the main factors hindering the realization of the right of the Crimean Tatar people to return the remains of deported Crimean Tatars to their homeland”,- the CTRC reports to EMRIP .
In accordance with paragraph 2b of Human Rights Council resolution 33/25, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will prepare a on repatriation of ceremonial objects and human remains under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The expert mechanism will present a draft report for discussion at its 13th session. The final version of the report will be presented to the Human Rights Council at its 45th session.
In turn, the campaign “Unutylmagan kabirler” will be continued to further collect information on the places of burial of Crimean Tatars in places of deportation.