Geneva:
The Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC), through the Centre for Gender Justice and Women Empowerment, a non-governmental organization with special consultative status at the UN, has submitted a critical statement to the UN Secretary-General under Agenda Item 3. The statement highlights systemic human rights abuses in Balochistan, Pakistan, including widespread socio-political and economic repression, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, severe restrictions on freedom of expression, and the fencing of Gwadar against the aspirations of the local population.
According to the BHRC statement, human rights organizations have documented thousands of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, with activists, journalists, and civilians often targeted by state security forces. Freedom of expression is severely restricted, with international and local media facing intimidation and violence, leading to significant underreporting of the crisis.
The statement also points out that the Baloch people suffer from economic and cultural marginalization, with their languages on the verge of extinction and natural resources exploited without benefiting the local population. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) exacerbates these issues, displacing communities and proposing controversial security measures such as fencing around Gwadar, which locals fear will increase militarization and restrict freedoms.
The BHRC calls for immediate UN intervention to investigate these violations, press for an end to extrajudicial actions by Pakistani security forces, and halt the controversial fencing project in Gwadar, which threatens to further marginalize the local population. The BHRC emphasizes the need for justice and the protection of fundamental rights in Balochistan.
Click the file below to access the full written statement:
Watch Latest Videos
