Sammi Deen Baloch Speaks at UN About Human Rights Crisis in Balochistan
Geneva (Switzerland), September 18: During the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Sammi Deen Baloch, General Secretary of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, addressed the council virtually. She highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Balochistan caused by Pakistan’s armed forces.
Sammi Deen Baloch shared on X, “During the 57th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, I briefed the Council on the human rights abuses and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Despite the unannounced travel restrictions imposed on me, aimed at barring me from attending the event and silencing my voice, I am grateful to Front Line Defenders for ensuring my voice was heard and enabling me to fulfil the purpose of my advocacy.”
In her video statement, Sammi Deen Baloch said, “My name is Sammi Deen Baloch. I am the daughter of fifteen-year-enforcedly disappeared Dr. Dean Mohammed Baloch. I am a human rights advocate against imposed disappearances. I am from Balochistan, and we have been witnessing severe human rights violations and a humanitarian crisis in Balochistan caused by Pakistan’s forces and security intelligence agencies. For many years, the people of Balochistan have suffered intense and constant human rights violations, including enforced disappearances on a large scale.”
She further stated, “This situation has profoundly affected our community. We have reached out to the justice system, but it has failed to deliver justice. We are seeking assistance from the international community to locate and bring back our enforced disappeared loved ones. We urge you to take action against human rights abuses in Balochistan and help the oppressed community receive the justice they deserve.”
An earlier report by The Balochistan Post, published in August, highlighted ongoing enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the region. It noted that nine individuals were released, while six bodies were discovered. The issue remains persistent, particularly in districts like Kech, Quetta, and Panjgur, where such incidents continue unabated. Kech reports the highest number of cases with fourteen incidents, followed by Quetta with seven, and other districts experiencing fewer occurrences.
This crisis has been a persistent issue for over twenty years, impacting students, activists, journalists, and politicians. The ongoing turmoil is exacerbated by severe distress among families, especially women and the elderly, who endure great suffering over the fate of their missing relatives.
Doubts Revealed
Sammi Deen Baloch -: Sammi Deen Baloch is a person who works to help find people who have gone missing in Balochistan, a region in Pakistan.
UN -: UN stands for the United Nations, an organization where countries come together to solve world problems like peace and human rights.
Human Rights Crisis -: A human rights crisis is when people are treated very badly and unfairly, like being hurt or taken away without reason.
Balochistan -: Balochistan is a large area in Pakistan where many people live, and right now, they are facing many problems.
57th session -: The 57th session is a meeting that happens for the 57th time where people talk about important issues like human rights.
UN Human Rights Council -: The UN Human Rights Council is a group in the United Nations that works to protect people’s rights and make sure everyone is treated fairly.
Geneva -: Geneva is a city in Switzerland where many important meetings, like those of the United Nations, take place.
General Secretary -: A General Secretary is a person who leads and organizes a group or organization.
Voice for Baloch Missing Persons -: Voice for Baloch Missing Persons is a group that helps find people who have disappeared in Balochistan.
Pakistan’s armed forces -: Pakistan’s armed forces are the military of Pakistan, which includes the army, navy, and air force.
Virtually -: Virtually means doing something over the internet, like a video call, instead of being there in person.
International assistance -: International assistance means getting help from other countries around the world.
Human rights abuses -: Human rights abuses are when people are treated very badly and unfairly, like being hurt or taken away without reason.
Twenty years -: Twenty years is a long time, almost as long as two decades, which is a very long time for problems to continue.
Elderly -: Elderly means older people, like grandparents, who are often more vulnerable and need more care.
