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Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, has voiced serious concern over reported harassment and attempts to criminalise women's rights activist Dr Sabiha Baloch and her family.
In her statement, Lawlor said she had also received information about the continued targeting of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee by state authorities, suggesting that these actions may be linked to their peaceful human rights advocacy. She stated that intimidation and legal pressure against human rights defenders are unacceptable and must stop immediately. Pakistani authorities have not yet issued a response to the concerns, as reported by The Balochistan Post. According to The Balochistan Post, Dr Shalee Baloch, who serves as the chief organiser of the Baloch Women Forum (BWF), addressed the council through a video statement during its 61st session of UNHRC. She described the situation in the region as deeply concerning, emphasising that violations continue unchecked despite repeated appeals from activists and political groups. Highlighting her organisation's efforts, Dr Baloch stated that Baloch activists have consistently condemned these alleged abuses and demanded justice. However, she noted that such calls have largely been ignored by authorities, allowing the situation to worsen over time. In a follow-up statement shared on social media platform X, she elaborated on what she termed the "serious and ongoing human rights crisis" in Balochistan. She highlighted that the lack of credible investigations and accountability mechanisms has intensified the suffering of affected families, leaving them trapped in prolonged uncertainty and grief. Dr Baloch urged both national authorities and international organisations to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and take concrete steps to safeguard the fundamental rights of the Baloch people. She also called on global media outlets to report on conditions in the region objectively, stressing the importance of engaging directly with local communities without external influence, as highlighted by The Balochistan Post. Concluding her remarks, she emphasised that meaningful change would require a unified and principled response from all stakeholders. Upholding justice, truth, and human dignity, she said, must remain central to any efforts aimed at addressing the crisis, as reported by The Balochistan Post. (ANI)
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