The Crimean Tatar Resource Center sent to the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) materials on the burial of Crimean Tatars in places of deportation, which will be used in the preparation of a report “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 "Unutylmagan kaabirler campaign", aimed at collecting and systematizing information about the burial places of our ancestors in places of deportation. The collected information was included in the materials sent by the CTRC to the 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 Art. 12 UNDRIP to collect information, make an inventory of graves, create a register, ensure their preservation on the ground, and develop a mechanism for the return of the remains of the deported Crimean Tatars to their homeland in Crimea.
“In accordance with Art. 2, 3, 4, 30 UNDRIP, the Russian Federation 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 the deported Crimean Tatars to their homeland”,- the CTRC report for EMRIP says .
In accordance with paragraph 2b of Human Rights Council resolution 33/25, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will prepare a report 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 during 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 continue to further collect information about the places of burial of the Crimean Tatars in the places of deportation.