Islamabad, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Human Rights and Women Empowerment, Mushaal, has issued a strong appeal to the international community for immediate action to halt the ongoing violence against children in Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). On the occasion of the International Day of Children, Mushaal, also the wife of incarcerated senior Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Mohammad Yasin Malik, delivered a powerful video message emphasizing the dire situation faced by children in these regions.
According to Press Information Department, Mushaal’s message highlighted the grave circumstances in Gaza and IIOJK, where children have become the most affected victims of longstanding territorial disputes. She condemned the actions of Israeli and Indian forces, alleging that these forces were responsible for the deaths, abductions, and harassment of thousands of children. Mushaal cited figures of child casualties and missing children in Gaza and the number of children orphaned in IIOJK, underscoring the severity of the human rights violations.
Mushaal criticized the Indian government for its disregard of international conventions on child protection, pointing to the implementation of controversial laws like the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in IIOJK. She argued that these laws exacerbate the situation by shielding Indian troops from accountability for their actions against Kashmiri youth.
In her message, Mushaal urged world powers and UN bodies to move beyond passive observation and actively intervene to stop the atrocities against children in Palestine and Kashmir. She expressed dismay over the international community’s silence and inaction in the face of what she described as war crimes and violations of child rights in both regions.
Mushaal’s call for action appeals to global powers, the international community, and human rights organizations to acknowledge the suffering of Palestinian and Kashmiri children and to take immediate measures to protect their rights and lives. Her message is a poignant reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza and IIOJK, particularly impacting the most vulnerable – the children.