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UN Asked to Appoint a Special Rapporteur on Kashmir

By Web Editor on 20th March 2014 • ( 0 )

Kashmiri activist Shamim Shawl chairs an international panel at UN building in Geneva

Three Kashmiris address UNHRC on the same day, two hold side panel discussions

By Our Special Correspondent

GENEVA, Switzerland: The Kashmiri delegation to United Nations in Geneva saw its busiest day on Wednesday, where three Kashmiri leaders addressed the Human Rights Council and two chaired side panel discussions on the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The three Kashmiri speakers requested the UNHRC to appoint a special rapporteur for Kashmir, where freedoms and human rights have deteriorated considerably in the last four years.

Zomorroda Habin speaks from Srinagar

Senior APHC leader Altaf Hussain Wani, Mrs. Shamim Shawl of International Muslim Women’s Union, and Sardar Amjad Yousaf Khan, the Executive Director of Kashmir Institute of International Relations, participated in the General Debate of the 34^th Meeting of the 25^th session of UNHRC currently underway in Geneva.

Shamim Shawl chaired a side panel on Women in Conflict, where two Kashmiri women activists, Zomorroda Habib and Masooda Bano, addressed the audience via Skype from Srinagar, Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Indian, French, Moroccan and Dutch women rights activists joined the panel discussion, including Daniela Donges, Joyce Anderson, and Sadani Malinie.

APHC leader Altaf Wani chairs the panel temporarily in the chairwoman’s absence

At one point, the panel invited APHC’s Wani to chair the sideline event while Mrs. Shawl left to participate in the parallel session of UNHRC where she delivered a statement to member States and NGO representatives.