Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch rights activist, brought attention to the severe hardships faced by Baloch women due to the actions of the Pakistani government. Her remarks were delivered at the fifth edition of the Asma Jahangir Conference 2024, themed "People's Mandate, Protection of Civil Rights in South Asia," which concluded in Lahore on Sunday.
The event saw the participation of numerous judges, human rights activists, and government officials from Pakistan, as reported by Samaa TV.
During the conference, distinguished figures from various countries, including Sri Lanka, Denmark, the Middle East, Europe, Great Britain, and Norway, gathered to discuss the state of human and civil rights in the South Asian region.
In her address, Mahrang Baloch shed light on the plight of Baloch women, stating that they are the primary victims of state violence. She lamented that these women often lose their individual identities in their struggle against oppression, being recognised solely as relatives of victims of violence. She passionately described the anguish of mothers who receive the mutilated bodies of their sons, emphasising the need for their pain to be acknowledged and addressed.
Furthermore, Mahrang Baloch spoke about the alarming humanitarian crisis in the region, citing instances of rape and sexual harassment against Baloch women. She condemned the brutal acts perpetrated against them, stressing that such actions not only rob women of their dignity but also perpetuate a cycle of suffering for generations.
Drawing attention to enforced disappearances, Baloch highlighted the prolonged agony endured by Balochistan's women, who have been tirelessly advocating for the safe return of their loved ones. She denounced enforced disappearances as a tool used by the state to suppress the Baloch people and exploit their resources. Baloch also called out the harsh treatment faced by women who participate in protests, including imprisonment, sexual abuse, and forced marriages to members of death squads.
The activist's impassioned speech underscored the urgent need for global solidarity in addressing the plight of Baloch women, urging feminists and social activists to raise their voices against the oppression faced by these women.
The Asma Jahangir Conference, named after the renowned human rights lawyer and former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, serves as a platform for discussing crucial human rights issues in South Asia. Jahangir's impactful contributions to human rights were posthumously honoured with the prestigious UN Human Rights Prize, commemorating her legacy of advocating for justice and equality.