While the world observes International Human Rights Day on Sunday, a report compiled by JK Voice of Victims quoted Amnesty International’s 2022 report and stated that repression by the Indian government intensified in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Rape, mass killings, torture, enforced disappearance, and suppression of freedom of speech are among at least 60 instances of human rights violations committed by the Indian army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force of India. According to the government’s data, 41,000 people have died in IIOJK as of March 2017.
However, on this day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), in an attempt to safeguard the rights and empower individuals across the globe.
The commemoration of International Human Rights Day serves as a stark reminder of the significance of ensuring freedom from torture, slavery, discrimination, racism and gender-based violence, endorsing equality while reinforcing social justice.
December 10 symbolises the salience of freedom of expression and thought as well as the need to establish transparent institutions to protect citizens’ basic rights.
