Dr. Fai Urges UN to Address HRVs in IIOJK at 58th Session of UNHRC

As the United Nations Human Rights Council begins its 58th session, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai urges the international body to take immediate action on the ongoing human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a region long neglected on the UN agenda.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, the Chairman of the World Forum for Peace & Justice, has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to address the deteriorating human rights situation in IIOJK. His statement comes as the UNHRC convenes for its 58th session in Geneva, focusing on the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. The session’s agenda item 8 seeks to promote human rights education, training, and public awareness to foster peaceful relations among communities.

Dr. Fai emphasized that the UN must seize this opportunity to push human rights issues to the forefront of global attention, especially in regions like IIOJK, where human rights violations continue unabated. “There are several ways for the United Nations to focus its efforts on increasing global attention to fundamental human rights,” Dr. Fai said. He urged the UN to take concrete steps to address smaller, less complex human rights issues, suggesting that doing so could create a culture of success in human rights advocacy and raise global awareness.

Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a region that has been a long-standing issue on the UN Security Council agenda since 1948, remains a critical focal point for international human rights discourse. Dr. Fai highlighted that the credibility of the United Nations is at stake in IIOJK, where human rights violations occur on a daily basis. A renewed UN initiative, according to Dr. Fai, would represent a vital step forward for the people of IIOJK and demonstrate the UN’s commitment to human rights.

However, Dr. Fai also expressed concern over a troubling new trend—human rights defenders in IIOJK are increasingly being targeted by Indian authorities. These individuals, who speak out against rights abuses in the region, are facing enforced disappearances, imprisonment, and threats to their families. “The result is a climate of fear, with growing risks to those who dare to speak or even write on social media about the situation,” he stated.

One of the most prominent examples of such repression is Khurram Parvez, a well-known human rights defender in Kashmir. Parvez has been recognized by several UN Special Rapporteurs, including those on enforced disappearances, human rights defenders, and counter-terrorism. Dr. Fai condemned the actions of Indian authorities, stating that Khurram Parvez’s case highlights the broader crackdown on those working to expose rights violations in the region.

In his statement, Dr. Fai also drew attention to a disturbing development on March 11, 2025, when the Indian government declared the Awami Action Committee (AAC), led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, an unlawful association. This move, he argued, further underscores the ongoing repression and the systematic targeting of political organizations and leaders in IIOJK.

Dr. Fai’s appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Council calls for urgent international intervention in Kashmir. The ongoing human rights abuses, along with the targeting of defenders and political leaders, require immediate attention to prevent further suffering and ensure that the international community does not remain silent in the face of these violations.