Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai
Chairman
World Form for Peace & Justice

March 5, 2026

When the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council opened in Geneva on February 23, 2026, the tone set by global leaders was unusually stark. Their warnings were not rhetorical flourishes. They were an alarm about a world in which the very foundations of human rights—carefully constructed after the devastation of World War II—are increasingly under strain.

Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, President of the Human Rights Council, captured the significance of the moment.

Addressing the gathering of more than 120 high-level dignitaries from across the globe, he emphasized that their presence sent a powerful message: that the Council mattered, that human rights mattered, and that multilateral cooperation remained indispensable in confronting shared challenges. He urged the international community to treat this session as a renewed call to listen, cooperate, and act—so that the Council could rise to meet the demands of the moment.

The message was reinforced by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned that human rights are under “a full-scale attack around the world.” According to him, the rule of law is increasingly being displaced by the rule of force. What makes this trend particularly troubling is that it is no longer hidden or subtle. It is occurring in plain sight, often driven by those who wield the greatest power.

Guterres cautioned that when human rights collapse, the consequences cascade through every other sphere—peace, development, and justice. He appealed to the Human Rights Council not to allow the erosion of human rights to become the acceptable price of political expediency or geopolitical rivalry. If that happens, he warned, the world risks creating a new global order where the powerful operate without limits while the vulnerable are left without protection.

The same concern was echoed by Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. He warned of a disturbing resurgence of domination and supremacy in international affairs. Behind the rhetoric of certain leaders, he suggested, lies a belief that they stand above the law—and even above the United Nations Charter itself.

Türk reminded the world that the international human rights system was created precisely to counter such impulses. In times of conflict as well as peace, he said, the United Nations must remain a lifeline for the abused, a megaphone for the silenced, and a steadfast ally for those who risk everything to defend the rights of others.

Similarly, Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, described her address as a call to action. History, she observed, rarely records the collapse of large systems in a single dramatic moment. Instead, they erode slowly—rule by rule, commitment by commitment—while those responsible for defending them remain silent. Eventually, what once appeared permanent disappears.

Her warning was direct: silence and inaction are choices. But action is also a choice, and it lies within our collective hands.

A Warning Directed at India

These global concerns about human rights were not merely theoretical. They quickly intersected with concrete developments.

On February 25, 2026, a group of United Nations human rights experts issued a sharp warning to the Government of India regarding persistent allegations of custodial torture, deaths in detention, and extrajudicial killings. They called for urgent independent investigations into reports of hundreds of such killings, torture-related deaths, and thousands of injuries inflicted by law-enforcement officials.

According to the experts, these allegations portray a disturbing pattern of violence that may be systemic rather than sporadic. If substantiated, they would constitute grave violations of the right to life, the absolute prohibition of torture, and the principle of non-discrimination—norms that occupy the highest rank in international law.

The experts also expressed alarm at persistent reports of torture and ill-treatment in custody, including beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, psychological humiliation, and denial of medical care. Overcrowded detention facilities and poor conditions further exacerbate the abuse.

Their warning was accompanied by a simple but powerful reminder: silencing those who seek justice is incompatible with an open and democratic society.

Kashmir: A Case the World Cannot Ignore

These concerns inevitably bring attention to one of the longest-running and most contentious conflicts in modern history—Kashmir.

For decades, reports of human rights violations in Kashmir have included allegations of extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and sexual violence. Various human rights organizations have documented these abuses over many years.

The magnitude of suffering in the region extends beyond individual violations. Entire communities have lived under prolonged militarization, frequent curfews, communication restrictions, and sweeping emergency laws that grant broad powers to security forces. For ordinary civilians, daily life has often been marked by uncertainty, fear, and disruption.

The existence of laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has drawn criticism from international human rights groups, which argue that it effectively shields members of the security forces from prosecution for serious abuses. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have long contended that such legal frameworks create an environment of impunity.

Reports of unmarked graves in parts of Kashmir have further intensified concerns. Investigations by local and international organizations have suggested that some graves may contain victims of enforced disappearances or extrajudicial executions dating back to earlier phases of the conflict.

In addition, restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly have repeatedly been documented by international observers. During periods of political tension, authorities have imposed curfews and restricted public gatherings, limiting the ability of people to voice dissent.

A Conflict with Global Implications

The Kashmir dispute is not merely a local or regional issue. It has broader implications for international peace and security.
India and Pakistan—both nuclear-armed states—have fought several wars over the territory. Periodic escalations between them continue to raise fears that the conflict could spiral into a larger confrontation with global consequences.

For this reason, the dispute has remained on the agenda of the United Nations since 1948, when the Security Council adopted resolutions calling for a peaceful settlement and a process enabling the people of Kashmir to determine their political future.
While circumstances have evolved dramatically over the decades, the fundamental principle underlying those resolutions remains relevant: durable peace cannot be imposed by force. It must rest on legitimacy and consent.

The Need for a Political Solution

Ultimately, Kashmir does not lend itself to a military solution. It is a political issue requiring a political settlement.

A sustainable path forward must involve dialogue and diplomacy. India and Pakistan will remain neighbors, bound by geography and history. Any lasting peace in South Asia must therefore include a framework that addresses the aspirations and sentiments of the Kashmiri people themselves.

The genuine leadership of Kashmir must be included in any negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute. Without their participation and consent, no settlement will achieve legitimacy or durability.

Justice, transparency, and accountability are essential first steps. Allowing independent international human rights observers to access the region would signal a commitment to openness and the rule of law.

The warnings delivered in Geneva at the Human Rights Council should not be treated as abstract reflections on global trends. They are reminders that the credibility of the international human rights system depends on its willingness to address difficult cases wherever they occur.

If the world truly believes that human rights matter, then silence cannot remain the default response.

Dr. Fai is also the Secretary General
World Kashmir Awareness forum.
He can be reached at:
WhatsApp: 1-202-607-6435 or gnfai2003@yahoo.com
www.kashmirawareness.org