It was an inspiring week of advocacy, collaboration and action-focused dialogue dedicated to protecting the cultural heritage, rights and socio-economic future of Indigenous Peoples around the world at the 19th session of the Expert Mechanism on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) held at UN Geneva from July 13-17, 2026.
In the side event jointly organised by the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), AFRIW e.V. and the Qatar Centre for Peace and Democracy (QCPD) during the EMRIP, participants examined the theme: Advancing the Social, Economic and Cultural Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Addressing Structural Barriers and Migration-Related Challenges.
Our Co-Founder, Saravanan Ganesan’s keynote speech, Climate Displacement, Structural Exclusion, and the Right of Indigenous Peoples to Participate in Skilled Workforce Migration, highlighted the urgent need for dedicated migration pathways that enable Indigenous Peoples to participate meaningfully and equitably in international skilled workforce mobility.
A key highlight of the side event was the special address of Prof. Dr. Alexandra Xanthaki, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, who underlined the importance of safeguarding Indigenous cultural heritage. Dr. Asang Wankhede, Postdoctoral Research Associate at King’s India Institute also addressed the systemic discrimination faced by Indigenous communities and their disadvantaged position in global workforce mobility.
The event also recognised the important advocacy work of Ms. Beatrice Pompé for the rights of the Chagossian People. Appreciation was extended to Matthias Boehning for moderating the discussion and contributing valuable reflections on the need to protect Indigenous heritage and ensure that no community is left behind.
During the third meeting of EMRIP, Saravanan Ganesan’s oral intervention focused on protecting Indigenous Peoples’ digital sovereignty over their data and ensuring that Indigenous communities benefit equitably from the value generated by artificial intelligence technologies.
Mr. Abisheak Asir Dhanapaul Devaraj represented partner organisation IMAECSED at EMRIP and delivered an oral intervention focused on the preservation of Indigenous languages and cultural heritage.
