During the Fifty-sixth session (18 June–12 July 2024) of the UN Human Rights Council, BHRC submitted a written statement on Agenda Item 3 through the Centre for Gender Justice and Women Empowerment, a non-governmental organization with special consultative status at the UN.
The statement brought to the attention of the UN Secretary-General the cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch people in Balochistan by Pakistani state authorities.The written statement cited data collected by various human rights organizations and verified by the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC).
According to this data, 65 individuals were subjected to enforced disappearances in the first quarter of 2024, and 11 individuals were extrajudicially killed by Pakistani security forces.
The statement further asserted that these heinous practices not only violate fundamental human rights but also perpetuate a climate of fear and oppression among the Baloch people. Families of the disappeared live in constant agony, uncertain of the fate of their loved ones, and are often denied justice and accountability. Extrajudicial killings, where individuals are executed without due process, exacerbate the situation, undermining the rule of law and eroding trust in state institutions.In the statement,
BHRC requested the UN to:
Urge Pakistan to ratify the CED (International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance) and enact implementing legislation, integrating these treaties into domestic law.Urge Pakistan to reveal the fate and whereabouts of victims of enforced disappearances, engage with the families, and ensure appropriate compensation.
Hold accountable all those involved in or facilitating enforced disappearances in Balochistan and other regions of Pakistan.
