Baloch National Movement hosts Balochistan International Conference in Geneva to highlight human rights violations

On Monday, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) inaugurated a series of events, including the Fifth Balochistan International Conference, in Geneva, coinciding with the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The conference brought together human rights activists, legal experts and political figures who aimed to shed light on ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan and garner international attention to the region’s political struggles.

Prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari, addressing the conference via video link, raised the critical issue of enforced disappearances, particularly spotlighting the case of Rashid Hussain Baloch, who has been missing for six years. Mazari highlighted that despite clear evidence of Rashid’s transfer to Pakistan and subsequent disappearance, authorities continue to deny involvement, leaving his fate shrouded in mystery.

Mazari further asserted that even if current oppressive tactics such as enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings ceased, the fundamental Baloch national question would remain unresolved and must be approached through the Baloch people’s right to self-determination. She argued that the Pakistani state’s repeated denial of Baloch identity has aggravated distrust and hostility between the Baloch people and the government.

Former British Labour MP John McDonnell called for heightened international pressure on Pakistan to confront what he termed “severe human rights violations” in Balochistan. He urged the global community to acknowledge these issues rather than ignore them, reinforcing the need for international accountability.

Italian journalist Francesca Marino, known for her book Balochistan: Bruised, Battered and Bloodied, provided an analysis of the ongoing conflict, labeling the treatment of the Baloch people as “systematic repression.” She expressed concern that the humanitarian crisis in the region remains significantly underreported globally.

Researcher Dr. Jennifer Philippa Eggert, specializing in women’s rights in conflict zones, spoke on the unique challenges faced by Baloch women amidst state violence, advocating for greater international focus on both gender-based and political violence affecting women in the region.

Renowned Baloch author and historian Dr. Naseer Dashti cautioned against the dangers of Pakistan’s use of the Fourth Schedule, which targets Baloch activists. He warned that such oppressive measures would heighten tensions and called for an end to the policies that marginalize the Baloch population.

Climate and human rights activist Yousuf Baloch, who organizes the Balochistan chapter of Fridays For Future, linked environmental degradation in the region to the larger human rights crisis, affirming the need for community-led initiatives to address intertwined environmental and human rights challenges.

Kashmiri nationalist leader Habib Rehman and Dr. Lakhu Lohana, General Secretary of the World Sindhi Congress, both stressed the importance of solidarity among marginalized groups, highlighting the shared struggles faced by the Baloch, Kashmiri and Sindhi populations under state oppression.

BNM Chairman Dr. Naseem Baloch delivered an impassioned speech, articulating the profound pain and suffering endured by the Baloch people while calling for international solidarity. He emphasized that Balochistan was once an independent state, asserting that the Baloch resistance against Pakistani rule is justified under international law.

Dr. Baloch described Pakistan as a “terrorist state,” accusing it of egregious human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and collective punishment. He referenced the ‘Cemetery of Unknown Bodies’ in Mastung, where victims of state atrocities are buried without identification.

Condemning China’s involvement in Balochistan, Dr. Baloch accused the country of exploiting regional resources through strategic projects, exacerbating the oppression faced by the Baloch people. He called for global action, underscoring that the Baloch struggle transcends human rights violations and is fundamentally about national independence. “Our sacrifices will continue and we will not rest until we are free,” he declared.

The conference, moderated by Niaz Zehri along with activists Shalli Baloch and Iman Baloch, is part of a larger series of events organized by the BNM during the UNHRC session.

On Tuesday, the BNM plans to stage a protest outside the United Nations office in Geneva near the Broken Chair monument, aiming to draw attention to what it terms “gross human rights violations” in Balochistan.