Campaigns

Self-Determination

PEARL has launched a campaign to actualize Tamils’ right to self-determination. Tamils have been systematically subjugated by successive Sinhalese-dominated governments since Sri Lanka gained independence 60 years ago. PEARL is campaigning for Tamils to have the opportunity to exercise the collective right to self-determination, enshrined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and other international covenants and resolutions.
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Divestment

PEARL urges individuals and companies to shift business from Sri Lanka to other regions of the world. The Sri Lankan government gains revenue for its genocide through foreign investment and its thriving export industry. PEARL encourages others to boycott all products made in Sri Lanka or by Sri Lankan companies.
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Starving for Peace

In February 2009, PEARL launched a 10,000-meal fast to call attention to the ongoing genocide in northern Sri Lanka. Eight PEARL members continuously fasted for 19 days, and were joined by thousands of supporters across the United States and across the world. Through this, media coverage was seen in the Boston Globe, Houston Chronicle, and other major papers. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) extended a personal invitation to one of the eight fasters to attend a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Sri Lanka.
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Commemorate Black July

July 2008 marked the 25th anniversary of Black July: the state-sponsored pogrom against Tamils across Sri Lanka. Over 3000 Tamils were killed in ten days of bloody violence, as the Sri Lankan forces instigated, participated, or enabled attacks against Tamil civilians, homes and businesses. Many attribute the start of Sri Lanka’s war to this tragic episode. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Black July, PEARL organized a rally in conjunction with the U.S. Campaign for Burma, to protest China’s funding of rogue regimes such as Sri Lanka and Burma. PEARL also worked with Congressional offices to introduce a resolution in the House of Representatives to officially acknowledge and commemorate Black July.
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Congressional Advocacy

PEARL organizes national lobby days on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, to educate and mobilize Congressional offices towards a sustainable solution in Sri Lanka. Previous lobby days have been held in conjunction with protest rallies, or in conjunction with semi-annual PEARL conferences. Traditionally, lobby days are held in March, July and November. PEARL’s most recent legislative effort was to send letters to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, urging them to take leadership in protecting Tamil civilians from the Sri Lankan government’s military onslaught. Prior to this effort, PEARL focused on stopping U.S. military funding to Sri Lanka, which it effectively accomplished with Section 699 of HR.2764, which restricted military aid until Sri Lanka met human rights requirements.
For more information, email Valli Sanmugalingam at vsanmugalingam@pearlaction.org.

International Advocacy

PEARL launched PEARL International in the fall of 2008, and quickly tripled its membership. PEARL now has over 2700 members in the United States and over 7000 members abroad. iPEARL mobilizes activists from around the globe to pressure key international bodies, such as the United Nations and the European Union. iPEARL’s focal campaign was to prevent Sri Lanka from gaining a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. iPEARL submitted an official report to the UN regarding Sri Lanka’s egregious human rights violations, ranging from extrajudicial “disappearances” to indiscriminate bombing and shelling to targeted attacks at Tamil community, religious, and political leaders. This report was cited in the UNHRC explication of its refusal to award Sri Lanka a seat on the UNHRC.
To join iPEARL, click here.