Islamabad, 30 August 2024 (TDI): On the International Day of Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, solidarity is extended to the families and loved ones of those subjected to enforced disappearances in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
This day highlights the ongoing suffering of those enduring uncertainty and anguish, seeking truth and justice.
Altaf Hussain Wani, noted Kashmiri human rights activist and Chairman of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR), issued a statement calling attention to the grave human rights violations in IOJK.
Since 1989, over 10,000 individuals have reportedly disappeared while in the custody of Indian forces, leaving families in prolonged distress and trauma. Many continue to search for answers amidst government indifference, with unmarked mass graves remaining uninvestigated.
Particularly affected are the women known as “Half-Widows” and “Half-Wives,” who live in perpetual mourning without closure regarding their missing loved ones. These women endure both emotional pain and social stigma, their calls for justice echoing the broader cry for accountability.
Despite international pressure, the Indian government has yet to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, undermining global human rights standards.
The failure to investigate unmarked mass graves and conduct forensic examinations further exacerbates the plight of the victims and their families.
Wani condemned the Indian government’s neglect and urged the international community to hold India accountable for its human rights violations.
He called for collective action to ensure justice for the victims and emphasized the need for the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, comprehensive investigations into enforced disappearances and unmarked mass graves in Kashmir, forensic examinations to identify remains and provide closure to families and support and resources for the victims and their families.
