Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.
The UDHR is a milestone document affirming that all humans are entitled to rights regardless of sex, color, religion, ethnicity, language, political opinion, nationality, or birth status.
These rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to education and work. The UDHR is the most translated document in the world, available in over 500 languages.
However, the Indian government has consistently violated human rights in Kashmir, committing acts including killings, enforced disappearances, torture, rape, political repression, and suppression of freedom of speech.
Indian security forces operate with near-impunity in Kashmir. Laws such as the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978, Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1990, and Prevention of Terrorism Act 2002 allow personnel to use lethal force against civilians, leading to widespread abuse.
According to the Kashmir Media Service, since 1989, Indian forces have committed:
- Total killings: 96,278
- Custodial killings: 7,322
- Civilians arrested: 168,939
- Structures destroyed/damaged: 110,509
- Widowed women: 22,968
- Orphaned children: 1,07,941
- Women gang-raped/molested: 11,259
- Pellet gun injuries: 3,800
On this International Human Rights Day, the global community, particularly the US and EU, is urged to prioritize the protection of human rights in Kashmir and among Indian minorities, transcending economic and strategic interests.