Geneva – During a side event at the 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, political activists from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan raised alarms over the growing human rights violations in these regions.
The event, titled “Intersectionality of the Right to Freedom of Expression and Other Human Rights”, served as a platform to shed light on the ongoing suppression of fundamental freedoms in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Activists highlighted the continued denial of basic rights, including the right to free speech, assembly, and access to information, by authorities in Pakistan-administered territories.
In their statements, the activists emphasized the deteriorating situation in these areas, where political dissent is often met with violence, arrests, and enforced disappearances. They called for greater international attention and intervention to address the human rights abuses faced by the people of these regions.
The event provided an opportunity for global dialogue on the intersection of freedom of expression with other fundamental human rights, further underscoring the need for global solidarity to hold violators accountable and ensure the protection of marginalized communities.
The ongoing issue of human rights violations in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan continues to be a pressing concern for both regional and international human rights organizations, with activists urging the UN to play a more active role in addressing the crisis.
