Aizawl: A six-member delegation from the Mizoram-based Zo Re-Unification Organization (ZORO) recently concluded their participation in the 18th Session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), held from July 14 to 18 at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The organisation is actively seeking international recognition for the Zo people, a community spread across various geographical boundaries.
During a press conference at the Aizawl Press Club, Lalnunfela Chawngthu, ZORO’s General Secretary for External Affairs, elaborated on their Geneva visit. He stated that the delegation was assigned to Panel 11, focusing on “Proposal to be submitted to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and approval,” where he formally presented a statement on behalf of ZORO and also submitted a memorandum to the session.
Chawngthu highlighted a significant interaction during the session, quoting a UN facilitator who remarked on the disunity among the Zo people (Chin, Kuki, Mizo). The facilitator emphasised that unity is crucial for strong opportunities for recognition and essential for achieving inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The UN representative further pointed out that the current fragmented status of the Zo people hinders their proper emergence as an Indigenous group, prolongs suffering, and weakens their case for rightful recognition, making it difficult for the UN to advocate for them. The facilitator urged the Zo community to work towards unity to enable UN support for their Indigenous status.
In a proactive move towards fostering unity and gaining international recognition, ZORO has introduced a ‘Zo Indigenous ID’. Chawngthu revealed that approximately 1,000 such IDs have already been issued and are currently being presented to various international organisations and governments for formal recognition. He stressed that this ID card serves as both a symbol of shared ethnic identity and a unifying document for all Zo people, urging every member of the Zo ethnic community to adopt and support its use to achieve collective Indigenous identity recognition.
While universal acceptance for the Zo Indigenous ID is still a goal, Chawngthu noted that ZORO delegates encountered no major difficulties using it at immigration and check-in points during their travels through Lengpui, Delhi, and Dubai airports. It is important to note that any person belonging to a Zo ethnic group, regardless of their location, is eligible to apply for the Zo Indigenous ID through ZORO.
Read More: Top Indian Boxers Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain Punch Their Tickets for World Championships