During the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, a Kashmiri delegation raised serious concerns about the human rights situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, urging immediate and effective international action.
The intervention took place during the General Debate on the High Commissioner’s update, where representatives from several civil society groups spoke to council members.
Key speakers highlighted alleged abuses and called for increased oversight:
Altaf Hussain Wani of the World Muslim Congress expressed deep concern over alleged arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances and the misuse of anti-terror laws to suppress dissent. He also condemned systematic surveillance and what he described as a “digital siege”, calling for enhanced monitoring by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and accountability for violations.
Sardar Amjad Yousaf Khan of International Action for Peace and Sustainable Development cited figures that more than 1,050 people have been killed and thousands detained in the region since 2019, and criticised restrictions on international access. He urged the High Commissioner to issue a third OHCHR report to assess gaps in accountability.
Shamim Shawl, representing the International Muslim Women’s Union, focused on the gendered impact, including sexual violence, widowhood and trauma affecting women, and called for a dedicated report on alleged violations against women.
The delegation referenced individual cases such as enforced disappearance to underscore the need for transparent investigations and an end to impunity. They reaffirmed the call for unrestricted access for international monitors and a peaceful, rights-based solution reflecting the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
