Geneva, A seminar conducted on the sidelines of the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) spotlighted the severe human rights violations against women and children in conflict zones, particularly in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the event was organized by the International Muslim Women Union and featured a panel of international law experts, activists, and scholars such as Mary Scully, Dr. Shazia Anwar Cheema, Dr. Asma Shakir Khawaja, Misbah Mukhtar, and Ayesha Rafiq, with Kashmiri rights activist Shaista Safi moderating the discussions.

The speakers outlined the harrowing circumstances faced by women and children in IIOJK and Palestine, emphasizing the profound impacts of ongoing conflicts on their well-being. Highlighting sexual violence as a particularly egregious violation, the panel detailed the traumatic experiences of survivors and the broader societal implications of such crimes.

The seminar shed light on the systemic nature of violence in these regions, underscoring the fear and vulnerability experienced by women and girls. The discussion also addressed the specific hardships faced by Kashmiri women, including the tragedy of over 23,000 widowed by the conflict and the brutal assaults perpetrated by Indian forces, as evidenced by cases like the Kunanposhpora mass rape, the Shopian double rape and murder, and the Kathua case.

Attention was also drawn to the plight of children in these conflict zones, with tens of thousands orphaned in IIOJK since 1989. The panel criticized the blatant disregard by India and Israel for international agreements designed to protect children and eliminate discrimination against women.

The speakers concluded by calling on global human rights organizations to take urgent action on behalf of women and children in Kashmir, Palestine, and other conflict-afflicted areas, emphasizing the need for heightened international attention and intervention.