In recognition of the disputed status of Jammu & Kashmir, successive UN Secretary-Generals have remained actively seized of the unfolding developments in the territory, articulated their serious concerns over the deteriorating situation and escalating violence in IIOJ&K and called for peaceful settlement of the dispute in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

In wake of India’s unlawful and unilateral actions of 05th August 2019, the Secretary-General, in his PRESS STATEMENT OF 08 AUGUST 2019, categorically stated that “the position of the United Nations on this region is governed by the Charter of the United nations and applicable Security Council resolutions”..He also expressed concerns “over reports of restrictions on the Indian-side of Kashmir, which could exacerbate the human rights situation in the region”. The Secretary-General’s statement resoundingly debunks India’s self-defeating narrative of its 05th August actions being an ‘internal matter’ as well as its hollow claims of ‘normalcy’ in IIOJ&K.

During his visit to Pakistan from 16-19 February 2020, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN’s position that the relevant resolutions of the Security Council on the dispute should be implemented and called for full respect for human rights and freedoms of Kashmiri people. He also reiterated his offer of mediation to resolve the dispute. In his relevant reports, the Secretary-General has also been documenting and highlighting trends and developments regarding violence against children and acts of reprisal against human rights defenders in IIOJ&K.

In his 2020 REPORT ON “CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT”, the Secretary-General expressed concerns over the detention of Kashmiri children, including their arrest during night raids, internment at army camps, torture in detention and detention without charge or due process, and urged India to immediately end this practice. He also expressed his concerns over child causalities, mainly caused by torture in detention and shootings from pellet guns, in the occupied territory and called on India take preventive measures to protect children, including by ending the use of pellets against them.

In his 2020 ANNUAL REPORT ON REPRISALS, the Secretary-General spotlighted the systematic use of reprisals by India against Kashmiri civil society actors for their cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and human rights mechanisms. By citing specific instances, the report revealed various forms and methods of intimidation and harassment, being used by India such as online smear campaign against human right activists, death threats, international travel bans, arbitrary arrest and detention, and ‘routine verification’ of concerned human rights activists by local authorities.