LIKE every year, the world recently observed the UN Human Rights Day, which is a ritual marked by lip-service at media-focussed functions, with rights’ abuses continuing unabated in various theatres of conflict.

This year’s Human Rights Day theme relates to the Covid-19 pandemic and stresses that human rights are central to recovery efforts.

While the rich countries have pre-booked supplies of successful vaccines, no one talks about the plight of the governments unable to pay $39 for two doses for its citizens.

The lonely elephant Kavaan was in the media limelight until it reached a wildlife habitat in Cambodia, but the plight of human beings, like those in the occupied Kashmir, remains out of focus. Where should they go?

India remained unruffled when the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) showed concern for the Kashmiris. However, there is realisation within India that the country should improve its rights record.

The human rights groups have repeatedly criticised UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his reluctance to rebuke powerful countries for their human rights violations.

While Australia has investigated human rights abuses by its troops, neither India nor any other forum has investigated rights’ abuses in the occupied valley.

Kashmir is an occupied territory even under customary international law, as it is actually under the authority of the hostile Indian army.

The current international humanitarian law has clarified and updated the rights and duties of occupying forces, the rights of the populations of occupied territory, and the rules for administering such a territory.

Let us care for human beings as much as for pets or wild animals.

Asad Malik
Faisalabad

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2020