UN slams India’s inaction on rights violations report on Kashmir

Michelle Bachelet

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, slammed India for its inaction on rights violations report in Kashmir

In the opening remarks of her first address to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Bachelet criticised India on not addressing issues highlighted in the UN report on human rights violations in Kashmir, and said that the people of Kashmir had the same rights to justice and dignity as people all over the world.

 “The Office of the HRC continues to request permission to visit both sides of the LoC, and in the meantime, will continue its monitoring and reporting,” she said.

According to The Indian Express, “In his report to the UN Human Rights Council in June, Bachelet’s predecessor Zeid Hussain had sought an “establishment of a commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive independent international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir” and asked the governments of India and Pakistan to “fully respect the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir as protected under international law”.

India has previously rejected UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ calls for unconditional access to Kashmir on either side of the Line of Control and stated, “The report violates India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.