India using rape as a weapon of war in Kashmir: Report
New York: A scathing report has been released by Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace & Justice, stating that India is using rape as a weapon of war in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the report, released during the 89th session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), highlights the systematic use of rape by Indian occupation forces to terrorize and intimidate the people of Kashmir.
According to the report, since 1990, Indian troops have gang-raped over 10,000 women, including brides on their way to their new homes. The victims of rape suffer from rape trauma syndrome, which causes them to constantly relive their ordeal through flashbacks, dreams, and body memories.
The report cites the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights’ 2019 report, which noted that women in Kashmir live in a constant state of siege and surveillance, and are subjected to mass rape, enforced disappearance, killings, and torture by Indian security forces.
The report also highlights the case of Kunan-Poshpora, where 23 women were gang-raped by Indian Army soldiers in 1991. Despite documentary evidence and eyewitness accounts, the Indian government has denied the allegations and blocked attempts to seek justice.
Dr. Fai’s report calls on the international community to condemn India’s actions and to take concrete steps to end violence against women in Kashmir. He also emphasizes the need for a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue through negotiations between the governments of India, Pakistan, and the genuine leadership of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The report’s release comes at a time when the international community is increasingly aware of the need to address violence against women in conflict zones. The use of rape as a weapon of war is a serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, and it is imperative that the international community takes action to hold perpetrators accountable.
