APHC Urges Global Action on Human Rights Violations in IIOJK

As the world observes Human Rights Day, Kashmir’s call for justice against India’s brutal oppression must not go unanswered.

Approaching the eve of World Human Rights Day on December 9, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has condemned the ongoing human rights violations by Indian forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). In a series of statements, various APHC-affiliated parties, including the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Tehreek-e-Hurriyet Jammu and Kashmir, and the Muslim League, called on the international community to urgently address the Kashmir dispute in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.

The political parties lamented that Kashmiris continue to be denied basic rights, including those outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted by the United Nations in 1948. They emphasized that the UDHR’s core principles forbid the suppression of fundamental rights, particularly the right to self-determination, yet India has systematically violated these principles, perpetuating a climate of fear, violence, and oppression in the region.

India’s brutal actions in IIOJK, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and enforced disappearances, have been widely criticized. The APHC has called for India to be held accountable for its war crimes in IIOJK, urging the international community to take legal action against the Indian state in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International War Tribunal. These actions, according to the APHC, represent a blatant disregard for international law and human rights.

Several APHC leaders, including Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Zamruda Habib, Yasmeen Raja, and others, also highlighted the widespread illegal detentions of thousands of Kashmiris, including prominent political leaders. The leaders demanded their immediate release, denouncing India’s ongoing efforts to silence dissent and suppress Kashmiri aspirations for freedom and self-determination.

Despite the ongoing oppression, APHC leaders remain resolute, asserting that the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people will eventually bring about positive change. They called on the international community to break its silence and take concrete steps to end the human rights abuses in IIOJK. The leaders also emphasized that the struggle for justice in Kashmir is not only a fight for the Kashmiri people but also for the integrity of international human rights standards.

As the world marks Human Rights Day tomorrow, the international community must confront the reality of India’s actions in IIOJK and hold it accountable for its brutal violations of human rights.