Mehr un Nisa

Between 2014 and 2020, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur and Assam, these three states contributed to 71% of the total UAPA cases in the country. Notably, Jammu & Kashmir witnessed an eight-fold increase, rising from 45 cases in 2014 to 289 in 2021 to 371 cases in 2022. This data highlights concentrated UAPA activity in specific regions, warranting a closer examination of its impact.

The following document presents a comprehensive compilation of international reactions to the issue of human rights violations in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, spanning the period from June 2023 to August 2023. This report aims to provide a consolidated overview of the statements made by prominent personalities and organizations, as well as the extensive coverage provided by leading newspapers and magazines, concerning the grave situation unfolding in Kashmir.

India's decision to host the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Kashmir is a flagrant attempt to legitimize its settler-colonial occupation of Kashmir, a disputed territory that is claimed by both India and Pakistan. By holding a meeting of the TWG in Srinagar in late May (22–24), India is attempting to project a false image of normalcy and development in the region, with over 100 international delegates scheduled to participate, disregarding the human rights violations and suffering of the Kashmiri people. The move has drawn strong protests from Pakistan, calling it a violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir. Indonesia, another G20 member, is considering whether to attend the meeting in light of Pakistan’s protest.
To convene the G20 TWG meeting in Kashmir is also a violation of international law, which prohibits major international events from being held in occupied territories. The move is an example of "territorial dispute," a term used in international relations to describe conflicts over the ownership or control of a particular piece of land or territory.
The G20 TWG meeting in Kashmir is an attempt to depict Kashmir as a non-issue on the international stage, and to seek international consensus for its illegal occupation. The Indian illegal occupation of Kashmir is an example of "smart power," a term used to describe the use of coercive and non-coercive means, such as culture, diplomacy, and economic policies (soft power), alongside its military and strategic capabilities (hard power) to achieve its foreign policy goals to achieve political ends. India is using the G20 meeting as a tool of soft power to project a positive image of itself on the global stage, despite its human rights abuses in Kashmir. This is a part of India’s mission to normalize their occupation of the land, which has been subject to a massive land grab as of late.
The decision to hold the G20 meeting in Kashmir raises questions about the role and relevance of the G20 in addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable and equitable development. The G20 has been criticized for being exclusive, undemocratic, and elitist, and for prioritizing the interests of the rich and powerful countries over those of the poor and marginalized. The G20 has also been criticized for failing to address key issues such as inequality, poverty, human rights, and climate change, and for exacerbating them through its neoliberal policies and deregulation. By hosting the G20 meeting in a disputed territory like Kashmir, the G20 risks legitimizing India’s illegal occupation and extending the suffering of the Kashmiri people.
It is important for the international community to take a stand against this decision to hold this meeting in Kashmir. India must be held accountable for their illegal occupation of Kashmiri land, which they have no right to use to advance their settler-colonial agenda.

The Indian state, driven by its settler-colonial ambitions, initiated a campaign of land-grabbing that would forever alter the lives of the Kashmiri people.
The Indian government's land grab and forced evictions in Kashmir have resulted in severe human rights violations. The catalyst for this grave injustice was the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which callously stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status. In the wake of this calamitous act, India enacted laws that trampled upon the human rights of the indigenous Kashmiris. These laws, such as the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act of 2019, repealed over 200 protective laws, leaving the Kashmiri people vulnerable to land grabs.
With complete impunity, the Indian government now had free rein to execute its colonialist project. The government targeted ancestral agricultural and non-agricultural lands, earmarking 178,005.213 acres in Kashmir and 25,159.56 acres in Jammu for its settlement and development projects.
India disregarded its international obligations despite being a signatory to key treaties, including international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) exacerbating the injustice in Kashmir.
The Indian government meticulously manipulated laws and employed local agents to gather information on Kashmiri land, paving the way for its settler-colonialist project. Voluminous charts documented every district, land area, and inhabitants. Evicted Kashmiris were denied justice, unable to present their rightful documents.
Forced evictions, recognized as the most severe violation under human rights law, have caused immense suffering in Kashmir. People were permanently or temporarily removed from their homes and land, without consent or legal protection. This led to the displacement of thousands, leaving them without adequate housing, basic services, and livelihoods. The forced evictions also violated the right to the continuous improvement of living conditions and tore families apart, severing their ties to ancestral lands.
These violations represent a pattern of disregard for human rights by the Indian occupying forces in Kashmir. Despite being a signatory to international treaties and agreements, including International Humanitarian Law and International housing, land, and property treaties, the Indian government ignored its obligations. The land grab and forced evictions were part of a wider settler-colonial agenda aimed at altering the demographics of the region and suppressing calls for self-determination.
The plight of Kashmiris served as a poignant reminder that in the face of injustice, silence was not an option. International unity is crucial to end violations in IoK, uphold Kashmiri rights, and ensure a future free from oppression.

The following document presents a comprehensive compilation of international reactions to the issue of human rights violations in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, spanning the period from January 2023 to May 2023. This report aims to provide a consolidated overview of the statements made by prominent personalities and organizations, as well as the extensive coverage provided by leading newspapers and magazines, concerning the grave situation unfolding in this disputed region.

India's decision to host the third meeting of the G20 tourism working group in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIoJK) has sparked widespread concerns and criticism from the international community. By attempting to project a false image of normalcy in the region, India seeks to legitimize its illegal occupation of the disputed territory and assert its sovereignty over the region. However, this move could have far-reaching consequences, including diplomatic backlash and damage to India's global reputation.

The introduction of GPS tracking marks a disturbing extension of state control, especially in a region grappling with longstanding political tensions. Kashmir, already a hotbed of conflict and dissent, is now witnessing a new frontier in the form of electronic monitoring, potentially paving the way for an unprecedented curtailment of civil liberties.

The Srinagar Smart City Project, under its glossy exterior, conceals a network of colonial intentions. The Indian state parades the illusion of development however beyond the sleek exterior and underneath the facade of progress, a complex narrative of settler colonialism unfolds, with the Indian state masterminding a grand illusion to reshape the region.

A concerning trend is the introduction of laws curbing Muslims' religious freedoms, such as anti-conversion laws and bans on wearing headscarves in schools. Authorities have also resorted to extrajudicial means, employing what critics label as "bulldozer justice." In 2022, several states witnessed the demolition of homes under the pretext of lacking proper permits

On March 08, the global community celebrates International Women’s Day to honor the achievements of women and advocate for gender equality. This year, the United Nations has chosen the theme “Investing in Women: Accelerating Progress” to emphasize the importance of women’s empowerment globally. In Jammu and Kashmir, International Women’s Day is overshadowed by harsh reality and is more of a sombre reminder of the ongoing fighting than a reason to celebrate.

A distressing pattern of systemic impunity for armed personnel, shielded by non-sanction for prosecution in civil courts under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and procedural shortcomings in military courts, often resulting in acquittals. Even in the rare instances of convictions in military courts, decisions have been frequently overturned by the AFT or other tribunals.

This abstract narrates the plight of Fahad Shah, a renowned Kashmiri journalist. In February 2022, he became embroiled in a Kafkaesque ordeal of incarceration, facing successive charges and legal obstacles. Shah's experience sheds light on the pervasive crackdown on press freedom in Kashmir.

The erosion of press freedom in Kashmir has far-reaching consequences, as journalists live in perpetual fear, self-censoring to navigate a precarious landscape. The closure of the Kashmir Press Club and restrictions on foreign journalists' access further limit the space for free expression.

The Kashmiri students, enrolled at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (SKUAST), were arrested after engaging in "anti-India sloganeering and intimidation of others who did not agree with them" post the cricket match. The complaint leading to the arrests was filed by another student who hailed from outside the territory. The FIR (First Information Report) filed against seven Kashmiri students invoked Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a provision carrying a maximum imprisonment of seven years. Additional charges under Sections 505 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were also levied against the students.

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action highlight the inextricable link between human rights and health and emphasise the fundamental right to the highest attainable standard of health for all. When applied to the disturbed region of Jammu and Kashmir, these principles are particularly important, especially given the profound mental health problems of the region's population.

In a world where political conflicts and climate change may initially seem like disparate issues, there exists a substantial correlation between the two forces. The connection becomes more apparent when we shift our perspective from climate’s impact on conflict to the vulnerability of regions affected by conflict to climate change.

A notable case in point is the region of Jammu and Kashmir, where the effects of militarization across the line of divide not only contribute to climate change but also hinder efforts to address environmental issues. The absence of any cooperative management of resources or to attend to the common issues on both sides further aggravates the problem.

The historical relationship between Hindus and Muslims has often been marked by animosity and strain. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has embraced Neo-Hindutva, an ideology rooted in Hinduism, with policies that lean towards populism rather than pluralism. Modi's nationalist approach, aligned with the Hindu nationalist movement, has raised concerns about its potential impact on international relations. The escalating ethno-nationalism advocated by certain factions within Hinduism raises significant risks about aggression, violence, and the potential for both intrastate and global conflicts, thereby endangering Hinduism itself and exacerbating hostilities among religious communities. The manifestation of violence only serves to deepen existing tensions, further jeopardizing the prospects of peaceful coexistence. This radicalism's capacity to transcend borders poses a grave threat to regional and global peace, potentially ushering in a new cycle of violence accompanied by severe humanitarian crises.

The ecological fragility of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir demands urgent attention to ensure the well-being of both its environment and inhabitants. The impact of this militarization extends beyond ecological concerns. This paper examines the detrimental effects of militarization on the environment and its consequences for both ecosystems and local communities of IoK.

In recent years, there has been a disturbing intensification of the crackdown on human rights defenders in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, characterised by repression & intimidation tactics employed by the Indian authorities to silence dissent.

In the land of beauty and turmoil, the voices of Asif Sultan, Fahad Shah, Sajad Gul, and Irfan Mehraj remained suppressed. Their struggle exemplified the grim reality faced by journalists, while the world watched, questioning the very foundations of democracy and the importance of a free press.

In Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, women have borne the brunt of the Indian occupation, emerging as both direct and indirect victims of state-sponsored violence. The region buzzed with whispered tales of societal hurdles of half-widows after their partners went missing.

This report aims to uncover the silent suffering of half widows facing sexual assault, social, economic and health challenges while bearing the responsibilities for their children and entire families.