Paank remains deeply concerned about the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, a long-standing human rights violation that has affected thousands of families in the region. To further highlight this grave crisis, a crucial initiative took place in Geneva, bringing together key international actors, human rights organizations, and advocacy groups.
During the recent protests and conferences held in Geneva, a detailed booklet was distributed that focused on enforced disappearances in Balochistan. This booklet, which was prepared with thorough research and ground-level testimonies, was shared with several stakeholders, including the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the UN Working Group on Human Rights and Environment, various speakers at the Baloch National Movement (BNM) conference, and numerous other human rights activists and NGOs committed to global justice.
The booklet addresses the heart-wrenching reality of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, where individuals, often political activists, students, journalists, and civil society members, have been forcibly taken without any information about their whereabouts by Pakistani forces. This practice, which violates numerous international human rights laws, leaves families in a perpetual state of uncertainty, fear, and despair.
Paank has long documented the disturbing trend of disappearances in Balochistan, calling for increased pressure on the Pakistani government to investigate these incidents transparently and provide justice to the victims and their families. The booklet distributed in Geneva underscores the urgent need for international attention on this issue. It brings to light the testimonies of families affected, reveals the systemic nature of the abductions, and underscores the role of the state in perpetuating these human rights abuses.
This initiative aligns with Paank’s broader mission to engage the international community in confronting human rights violations worldwide. By distributing the booklet to critical stakeholders such as the UN Working Groups and NGOs, the goal was to raise awareness, garner support, and encourage global advocacy for the missing people of Balochistan. These UN working groups, with their mandate to investigate and act on human rights issues, can play a pivotal role in exerting diplomatic pressure and ensuring that accountability mechanisms are strengthened.
Paank calls on the international community to take immediate and decisive action to end enforced disappearances in Balochistan. The distribution of this booklet is just one step in the ongoing global campaign to address these injustices.