At the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Baloch activist Mahan Baloch passionately addressed the dire human rights violations in Balochistan. She implored the international community to intervene and confront the genocidal actions perpetrated by the Pakistani state, wherein enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and collective punishment have become alarmingly commonplace.
Baloch’s heartfelt speech cast a spotlight on the anguish of families shattered by injustice. “I stand before you not just as a young Baloch girl, but as a voice of thousands of families torn apart by injustice,” she expressed, emphasising the deep pain experienced by her community over decades of suffering.
Describing the harsh realities of life in Balochistan, she stated, “In my homeland, Balochistan, pain has become a way of life. Our fathers disappear without a trace. Our brothers return as lifeless bodies riddled with bullets.” Mahan shared heartbreaking testimonies of victims, such as Samideen, who has been waiting for her father since 2009, highlighting the urgent need for justice.
As she outlined the resilience of the Baloch people amid state violence, she lamented, “The Baloch people cry for justice, yet the only response they receive is violence.” When they gather to seek answers, they face oppression rather than support.
Mahan Baloch poignantly questioned the global indifference: “How long will the world remain silent? How long will our tears be ignored?” She described the actions in Balochistan as crimes against humanity and closed her intervention with a fervent appeal for support, urging, “Madam Vice President, we return to you in hope. The people of Balochistan need more than your sympathy. They need your action.”
During the UN Human Rights Council session, Baloch activist Mahan Baloch urged global action against human rights abuses in Balochistan, highlighting enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Her emotional testimony illustrated the suffering of families impacted by these atrocities and emphasised a call for accountability and advocacy from the international community.
Mahan Baloch’s impassioned appeal at the UN highlights the grave human rights crises in Balochistan, calling for urgent global action against state-sponsored atrocities. Her testimonies reflect the pain of countless families, underscoring a plea not only for justice but for international accountability. The ongoing violence and suffering demand a response that transcends mere sympathy, pushing for measurable support to safeguard the rights of the Baloch people.
Original Source: www.tribuneindia.com
