United Nations Human Rights chief expresses concerns over Kashmir and Assam

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has expressed concerns over the situation in Kashmir as it entered its sixth week of lockdown after its special status was lifted last month.

Bachelet, in her opening statement at the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council, also added that it was important to involve the people of Kashmir in decision-making processes. “It is important that the people of Kashmir are consulted and engaged in any decision-making processes that have an impact on their future,” Bachelet was quoted saying.

“While I continue to urge the Governments of India and Pakistan to ensure that human rights are respected and protected, I have appealed particularly to India to ease the current lockdowns or curfews; to ensure people’s access to basic services; and that all due process rights are respected for those who have been detained,” she said.

The Centre had deployed thousands of troops to keep the law and order situation under control and imposed restrictions on communications. Some of these restrictions were lifted subsequently, but many restrictions continue.

Under this backdrop, while Pakistan has been trying to raise the matter in international forums, India has maintained that it is an internal matter for the country.

Bachelet today also expressed concern on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, saying that it has led to anxiety. About 19 lakh people have been being left out of the final list published on August 31.

The UN human rights chief appealed to the government of India to maintain all due processes in order to ensure that human rights are maintained for those who have been left out of the list and to ensure that they are not rendered “Stateless”.

In a statement released last week, the External Affairs Ministry has had said that exclusion of names from the list does not render a person “Stateless”.

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