UNHRC session hears concerns over human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir
Representatives of three international organisations raised concerns at the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council over what they described as a deteriorating human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, according to a press release issued in Geneva on Friday.
Speaking under the framework of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Mohib Ali of the International Action for Peace & Sustainable Development raised concerns over recent land policies.
Ali highlighted the impact of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 2022, saying the non-renewal of expired State and Nazool land leases had led to eviction notices in Srinagar neighbourhoods including Polo View, Rajbagh and Karan Nagar.
Citing official figures showing 9,877 kanals of Nazool land, including 5,619 kanals leased for commercial use, Ali called on the council to ensure land administration and eviction measures comply with international standards on due process and non-discrimination, as well as the right to adequate housing and livelihood.
In a separate intervention, Minahil Gul of the World Muslim Congress criticised the reservation system in the region, saying administrative policies were contributing to the political and socio-economic marginalisation of Kashmiri Muslims.
Gul cited data showing that 80.4% of reservation certificates were concentrated in Jammu, compared with 19.6% in the Kashmir Valley. She also criticised the reduction of the merit quota to 30% and called on the UNHRC to hold authorities accountable for measures she said limited opportunities for Kashmiri youth.
Syeda Mishal Zahra of the International Muslim Women’s Union addressed the situation of women and children, citing Indian parliamentary data showing that of 509 missing minor girls reported in 2023, 300 remained unaccounted for.
She also referred to thousands of “half-widows”, women whose husbands remain among more than 10,000 missing people in the region.
Zahra also highlighted the mental health impact of prolonged conflict, citing a Médecins Sans Frontières survey that found 45% of adults in the Kashmir Valley experienced significant mental distress, including depression at 41%, anxiety at 26% and post-traumatic stress disorder at 19%.
The three interventions called for stronger implementation of the Vienna commitments and urged UN mechanisms to ensure that policies in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir comply with international human rights law, particularly on the protection of women and children, non-discrimination and due process.