Closing the gap between law and practice on indigenous peoples rights in India
indigenous rights advocacy centre
Latest Updates
Jharkhand: IRAC moves NHRC over Killing of tribal man in police firing
Torture of a tribal woman in Palamu district of Jharkhand
Briefing Paper: Criminalization and prosecution of tribals in false cases in India
Arrest and torture of tribal youth in a fabricated case in Kerala
IRAC Briefing Paper # 3: Impacts of tiger reserves on indigenous peoples
Arbitrary arrest, custodial torture and false prosecution of 4 tribal villagers in Madhya Pradesh
Who We Are
The Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC) is a not-for-profit organization that advocates for the rights of indigenous peoples in India.
The organisation is run and led by a diverse team comprising of committed indigenous rights defenders and lawyers. Under the able guidance of an Advisory Board, the team is led by practicing lawyers belonging to tribal or indigenous communities.
IRAC seeks to combine practice, research, advocacy and collaboration as an effective method to promote and protect the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples.
What We Do
Research
We carry out research on current and ongoing challenges pertaining to indigenous peoples’ rights and well-being. IRAC seeks to collaborate with relevant international organizations, academic institutions and indigenous and other civil society organizations to encourage interdisciplinary approaches to current issues being faced by indigenous peoples.
Advocacy
IRAC engages in coordinated and strategic advocacy actions to promote meaningful reforms by state and non-state actors to improve protections for indigenous people’s rights. It supports Indigenous Peoples rights in India and in the South Asian region by strengthening local indigenous rights movements to bring awareness and international pressure to their struggles while enhancing Indigenous communities’ capacity to demand and assert their rights outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Interventions
We make timely and effective interventions on rights violations of the indigenous peoples in India. The interventions are both at the legal and policy level.
Capacity Building
We impart and facilitate training and capacity building programs for individuals and organizations within the indigenous communities in India to build skills and tools to protect against rights violations.
The aim of the training programmes are to improve the situation of indigenous peoples in the country through capacity building and awareness raising on indigenous peoples’ issues.
Legal Support
We provide free legal support and representation to victims of rights violations. We also run a free LEGAL HELPLINE manned by volunteers and paralegals.
Collaboration & Solidarity
IRAC believes in collaborative alliances and actions in particular those working with and supporting human rights defenders, especially indigenous land and forest defenders and local communities.
IRAC collaborates and works together with like minded organizations working for indigenous peoples rights in the region and globally; and for the protection, promotion and defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms across the world.