On July 25, the Mizoram-based Zo Re-Unification Organization (ZORO) announced that a six-member team had participated 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.
Lalnunfela Chawngthu, ZORO’s General Secretary for External Affairs, addressed the media at the Aizawl Press Club, stating that the delegation took part in Panel 11 under the agenda item titled: “Proposal to be submitted to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and approval.” He delivered a formal statement on behalf of ZORO and submitted a memorandum.
Chawngthu shared that a UN facilitator had emphasized the need for unity among the Zo people—Chin, Kuki, and Mizo—for proper recognition as an Indigenous group. The current fragmentation weakens their claim and hampers international support.
As part of a unifying effort, ZORO has launched a Zo Indigenous ID. Around 1,000 IDs have already been issued and presented to international bodies. Though not yet universally accepted, delegates faced no major issues using it at airports. The ID is open to all individuals of Zo ethnicity worldwide.
