Islamabad, A recent report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service on International Women’s Day sheds light on the extensive suffering and injustice faced by women in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), highlighting their plight amid ongoing state terrorism.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the document reveals alarming statistics, showing thousands of women among the 96,290 people martyred by Indian forces since January 1989. It details the struggles of women who have become widows or “half-widows” due to their husbands’ disappearances or deaths, and those who have been molested or disgraced by occupation forces. The report includes heart-wrenching accounts of mass rapes and murders, underscoring a systematic pattern of violence against women in the region.
The narrative also brings to light the psychological toll on women who have lost family members or are dealing with the absence of their loved ones detained or disappeared. The report criticizes the international community’s silence over these human rights violations and calls for action to uphold the rights of Kashmiri women, aligning with global human rights standards and conventions.
It further details the challenges faced by women married to Kashmiri men from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, who are denied citizenship and essential rights in IIOJK. The personal stories included in the report, such as those of the wives and mothers of detained or martyred men, paint a stark picture of the ongoing crisis and its gendered impacts.
Amidst these revelations, the report emphasizes the resilience and leadership of Kashmiri women in the struggle for self-determination and justice. As International Women’s Day prompts global reflection on women’s rights and achievements, this report underscores the dire circumstances in IIOJK, urging international intervention to address the grave injustices faced by its women.