Report: ANI Correspondent:
GENEVA — Kashmiri delegates Dr. Raja Muhammad Sajjad Khan and Prof. Dr. Shugufta Ashraf met Professor Chaloka Beyani, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, at the United Nations Office in Geneva and briefed him on the situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The delegates expressed concern over what they described as continued killings, forced displacement, demographic changes, restrictions on fundamental freedoms and impunity in IIOJK. They urged the United Nations to examine the situation from the perspective of genocide prevention and prevention of other atrocity crimes.
They cited figures relating to civilian deaths since 1947 and referred to reports of mass graves and large-scale displacement, calling for independent investigations and forensic examinations.
The delegates also raised concerns over laws and policies including the Public Safety Act, AFSPA, domicile regulations, land laws and media-related policies, which they said had affected the political, civil and social life of the people of IIOJK.
They highlighted cases of conflict-related sexual violence, including the Kunan-Poshpora case, and called for independent investigations, accountability and effective remedies for victims.
Referring to assessments by Genocide Watch, the delegates stressed the importance of early-warning and preventive mechanisms where indicators of atrocity crimes exist.
They urged the UN to strengthen monitoring and early-warning mechanisms and conduct credible investigations into killings, mass graves, forced displacement, sexual violence and other alleged serious violations.
The Kashmiri representatives also called for accountability for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations, stressing that impunity should not undermine international human rights and humanitarian law.
The meeting concluded with an appeal to the UN Special Adviser and relevant international mechanisms to consider the concerns presented by the delegates and strengthen preventive measures to protect the civilian population of Jammu and Kashmir.
