Islamabad, In a significant move, representatives of civil society have submitted a memorandum to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling for immediate intervention to mitigate the escalating human rights crisis in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The memorandum, presented through the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Islamabad, sheds light on the dire human rights situation in the region under Indian rule.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the document outlines the prolonged struggle of Kashmiris for dignity, freedom, and justice since 1947, highlighting the Indian government’s systematic denial of fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination. It accuses Indian security forces of committing a wide range of human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the use of pellet shotguns, which have resulted in thousands of injuries and cases of blindness.
The memorandum also brings attention to the sexual violence perpetrated against Kashmiri women by Indian forces, with over 11,255 cases of sexual assault reported over the past three decades. Additionally, it criticizes the Indian government’s unilateral actions, notably the revocation of Article 370 and the introduction of new laws that aim to change the demographic makeup of Kashmir.
Civil society representatives have voiced their concerns regarding the suppression of democratic dissent, the arbitrary detention of political leaders, human rights defenders, and journalists under harsh legislations such as the Public Safety Act and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. The memorandum details the targeting of religious and social organizations, confiscation of properties, and closure of educational institutions as part of India’s efforts to quell dissent and dilute Kashmiri identity.
The memorandum concludes with an appeal to Secretary-General Guterres to press the Indian government to revert constitutional changes, repeal repressive laws, restore fundamental rights, and allow a fact-finding mission to assess the grave human rights situation in IIOJK. It underscores the necessity for international engagement to resolve the humanitarian crisis in the occupied territory.