Srinagar: The world is observing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, today, while women in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue to be haunted by Indian state terrorism, injustice, and agony inflicted by India troops.
Each year, 25th November is being observed as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women around the world. Vienna Declaration and Program of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, confirms the human rights of women as an “inalienable, integral and indivisible part of human rights.”
The violations of women’s rights during all conflicts has remained an issue in the twentieth century and if not corrected it will surely affect women not only in twenty-first century but also in the next millennium. Currently, India maintains almost 1 million troops in Kashmir, making it the most militarized zone in the world, which have been involved in crimes against humanity.
Thousands of women in Indian Administered Kashmir are immensely suffering at the hands of Indian occupation troops. India has designed its own legal license to target the sanctity and dignity of Kashmiri women. Particularly after 5th August 2019, BJP’s goons now have legal cover to openly pursue their evil agenda by passing derogatory remarks about Kashmiri women while ignoring their human and religious rights.
Sexual violation against women is being used as a weapon of war in Indian Administered Kashmir just to compel Kashmiri nation to give up their demand for freedom and the right to self-determination. Indian Occupational forces have martyred over 2,347 women, molested 11,256 women and widowed 22,951 since 1989. UN High Commissioner on Human Rights (UNHCHR) issued its “Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir,” on 8 July 2019.
The report contains graphic documentation of human rights violations being committed by Indian military and paramilitary forces in Jammu & Kashmir. International community should put pressure on India that psychological trauma faced by ‘half widows’ (whose husbands have disappeared) should come to an end and it should provide access to information regarding the disappeared persons.
World forums and global HR organizations should help to secure basic rights to Indian Administered Kashmir women guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and promised under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
The sufferings of Kashmiri people commenced with the landing of Indian troops in J&K which have increased manifold after India suspended the special status of Indian Administered Kashmir through revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A of Indian Constitution on 5th August 2019. On one side India claims to be a secular, inclusive and democratic state; while, the country’s human right record shows a contrast reality. Indian brutalities and state-sponsored crimes against humanity in Kashmir have nailed India on history’s pillar of shame forever.
Kashmiris are eager more than ever to seek freedom. While Indian brutalities have beefed up to suppress Kashmiris, making their lives miserable under a virtual prison.
Please visit our website London Institute of Peace Research for latest peace news
