In commemoration of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (August 30) and to honor those who suffered and vanished during the civil war in their homeland, a significant protest took place at North Terrace, Trafalgar Square, London. The demonstration, organized in collaboration with the Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam and other diaspora organizations, called for an international investigation to secure justice for the victims.
The United Nations designated August 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances in 2011, to shed light on the millions of people who have disappeared due to conflicts, political repression, and violence worldwide.
According to the United Nations, more than 140,000 people have gone missing due to the civil war that ravaged the homeland from 1983 to 2009. Journalists and human rights activists who have spoken out against the atrocities committed against Tamils in their homeland continue to face threats, with many being forcibly disappeared by the Sri Lankan government and military.
For the past 2,500 days, the families of the missing have been tirelessly seeking justice, with human rights activists standing by their side. To this day, none of the disappeared individuals have been located, and their fate remains unknown. The demonstration in London aims to draw international attention to this ongoing struggle for justice.
The continued efforts of homeland families and activists to seek justice serve as a powerful testament to the significance of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. It is the shared aspiration of human rights advocates worldwide to end the crime of enforced disappearances and ensure that no one is subjected to such a fate again.
