Every year, March 8th is observed as International Women’s Day to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for their rights. However, for the women of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), this day serves as a grim reminder of their relentless suffering under Indian military occupation. The systematic oppression, sexual violence, illegal detentions, and denial of legal aid stand in stark contrast to the global commitments enshrined in international treaties and conventions.
The plight of Kashmiri women, particularly victims of state violence, remains ignored by the international community, despite clear violations of human rights and international law. One of the darkest chapters in the history of Kashmiri women’s suffering is the mass gang rape of Kunan Poshpora in 1991. Indian forces raped nearly 100 women in these twin villages, an act that remains unpunished despite multiple reports by human rights organizations. This atrocity violates numerous international laws, including the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), which prohibits the use of sexual violence in conflicts, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Furthermore, United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 emphasize the need to protect women from sexual violence in conflict zones. Despite this, Indian authorities have continued to deny justice to the survivors, making it one of the most prolonged cases of state-sanctioned impunity in modern history.
Beyond sexual violence, the repression of Kashmiri women extends to illegal detentions. Thirteen prominent Kashmiri women, including Asiya Andrabi, Naheeda Nasreen, and Fehmeeda Sofi, remain imprisoned in Tihar Jail, India’s high-security prison. Asiya Andrabi, faces a 100,000-page dossier of fabricated charges under draconian laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA), which deny her the right to a fair trial. These detentions violate Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which prohibits arbitrary arrests, and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which upholds the right to legal representation.
The plight of Kashmiri women prisoners in Indian jails, particularly in Tihar Jail, is harrowing. Reports indicate that Asiya Andrabi and Fehmeeda Sofi suffer from severe health conditions, yet they are denied medical treatment. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) explicitly state that detainees must have access to medical care, including specialists, when needed. However, the Indian authorities have disregarded these regulations, subjecting the detainees to extreme physical and psychological distress. Moreover, Kashmiri women languishing in these jails are cut off from their families, further exacerbating their suffering. The pain of Kashmiri women extends beyond prisoners to the thousands whose brothers, sons, husbands, and fathers are detained in far-flung Indian jails. Families often travel long distances only to be denied access to their loved ones. The prolonged detentions, coupled with the absence of legal aid, violate international legal principles. Women whose family members have disappeared or are languishing in detention suffer from severe mental trauma, yet their cries remain unheard by global human rights organizations.
Despite clear violations of international human rights laws, Geneva Conventions, and UN Resolutions, the silence of the international community remains deafening. International organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and Amnesty International, have repeatedly documented these abuses, but little has been done to hold India accountable.
The International Women’s Day, meant to celebrate and uplift women, must also be an occasion to raise the voices of oppressed women in conflict zones like Kashmir. While women across the world celebrate their rights and achievements on March 8th, Kashmiri women continue to battle gender violence, illegal detention, denial of legal aid, and inhumane prison conditions. Their struggle demands global attention, and the international community must act to ensure justice. The failure to address these human rights violations not only betrays the principles of international law but also exposes the hypocrisy of global institutions that champion women’s rights selectively. Justice for Kashmiri women is long overdue, and their suffering must not be forgotten.
The responsibility of free women across the globe, particularly those in the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora, as well as those working within UN bodies and the women of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is to use their freedom and platforms to help liberate their Kashmiri sisters from oppression they face in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. These women must raise their voices for those who live under illegal occupation, deprived of their basic rights and freedoms, enduring immense suffering. By amplifying their voices and advocating for justice, they can help bring global attention to the plight of Kashmiri women and work towards creating a better, more just future for them.
