Sami Baloch Urges UN to Address Human Rights Violations in Balochistan
Geneva, Switzerland – During the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, Sami Baloch, a representative of the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC), raised serious concerns about the increasing cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. He called for UN intervention to protect the lives of thousands of victims.
Baloch stated, “We draw your attention to the troubling phenomenon of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. These disappearances, along with institutional killings and the discovery of mutilated bodies of Baloch human rights defenders and social-political activists, represent severe human rights violations perpetrated by the Pakistani state.”
He emphasized that security agencies appear to be systematically targeting the most prominent members of Baloch society. According to data collected by the BHRC, the region has witnessed an unprecedented surge in brutality due to enforced disappearances and a “kill-and-dump” policy. In 2022 alone, 367 individuals went missing, while 79 were extrajudicially killed.
Baloch also highlighted the recent recovery of 38 unidentified bodies, believed to belong to missing persons, from a hospital in Lahore. From January to December 2023, a total of 416 individuals were reported missing, with 36 bodies found across Balochistan showing signs of torture and bullet wounds. In the first half of 2024, 206 more individuals were reported missing, with security forces extrajudicially killing 15 of them, whose bodies were subsequently disposed of in various locations.
Baloch emphasized, “These enforced disappearances and killings violate established international laws. We urge the United Nations to take action to save the lives of countless missing persons.”
Pakistan has a troubling history of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, particularly targeting human rights defenders, minority activists critical of the government and military, and individuals linked to opposition groups. The unchecked power of the military, coupled with a complicit government, has fostered a climate of fear and repression in the region.
Doubts Revealed
Sami Baloch -: Sami Baloch is a person who is speaking out about problems in Balochistan, a region in Pakistan.
UN -: UN stands for the United Nations, an organization where countries work together to solve big problems around the world.
Human Rights Violations -: Human Rights Violations are actions that harm people’s basic rights, like the right to live safely and freely.
Balochistan -: Balochistan is a region in Pakistan where some people are facing serious problems like disappearances and killings.
57th session -: The 57th session is a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, where they talk about important issues.
United Nations Human Rights Commission -: This is a group in the United Nations that focuses on making sure people are treated fairly and their rights are protected.
Baloch Human Rights Council -: This is a group that works to protect the rights of people in Balochistan.
Enforced disappearances -: Enforced disappearances happen when people are taken away secretly and their families don’t know where they are.
Extrajudicial killings -: Extrajudicial killings are when people are killed without a fair trial or legal process.
International laws -: International laws are rules that countries agree to follow to make the world a fairer and safer place.