NCSW urges world to take notice of HR abuses in IIOJK

Chairperson laments world raised voice for women all over the world, but remained silent on Indian oppression in IIOJK

ISLAMABAD:

National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) Chairperson Nilofar Bakhtiar has pressed the international community to hold India accountable for its massive state-sponsored human rights violations, girls and women persecution in Indian Illegal Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Talking to APP, she lamented that the world raised its voice for women all over the world, but it remained silent on the Indian oppression of Kashmiri women, girls and children of IIOJK.

Bakhtiar said: "We pay tribute to IIOJK Kashmiri women for their courageous stand against the oppression of the Indian Army."

She said a large number of women were raped by the Indian army in IIOJK every year adding that a huge number of children were also sexually assaulted by the Indian soldiers but unfortunately, the civilised world remains silent on such human rights violations against women and children in IIOJK," she regretted.

Commenting on the Indian defeat against the Kashmiri people's firm resolve for liberation, she said India failed to break the will and strong determination of the Kashmiri women by using all illegal and inhumane means.

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She said that Kashmiris including women and children were facing unabated extrajudicial killings, custodial torture, death, arbitrary detentions, burning and looting of houses to inflict collective punishment, and other worst forms of human rights abuses.

The NCSW chairperson called these measures a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, UN Security Council resolutions, and the Fourth Geneva Convention. Replying to a question, she said the right to self-determination and a just resolution of the dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions was the basic right of the IIOJK. She underscored that during the 16-day activism of women's rights and on the global Human Rights Day Pakistan was fully acknowledging and raising its voice for Kashmiri women and girls facing perpetual Indian state terrorism and worst atrocities of all kinds in the occupied valley.

Nilofar concluded that the women's contributions and sacrifices for the freedom movement of IIOJK were commendable and symbols of strength for the women facing atrocities all over the world.