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Japan Activist Slams Pakistan's Rights Record in Balochistan at UN

At the UN Human Rights Council, Japanese activist Shun Fujiki delivered a sharp condemnation of Pakistan's human rights record in Balochistan. He cited over 1,200 enforced disappearances in 2025 and the ongoing detention of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch. Fujiki accused Pakistan of enabling the exploitation of the region's natural resources while local communities remain impoverished. He called for independent UN investigations and international pressure on Pakistan to uphold human rights conventions.

Key Points: UNHRC Criticizes Pakistan Over Balochistan Rights Abuses

  • 1,200+ enforced disappearances in 2025
  • Exploitation of Balochistan's resources
  • Displacement of indigenous communities
  • Detention of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch
  • Calls for UN fact-finding missions
2 min read

Pakistan's atrocities in Balochistan spotlighted at UNHRC session

Japanese activist Shun Fujiki at UNHRC details enforced disappearances, resource exploitation, and repression in Pakistan's Balochistan.

"imagine Baloch mothers desperately searching - Shun Fujiki"

Geneva, March 24

At the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Japanese human rights activist, Shun Fujiki, in his oral statement, sharply criticised Pakistan over alleged human rights violations in Balochistan.

Addressing the council, Fujiki urged delegates to "imagine Baloch mothers desperately searching" for their loved ones, describing a grim reality marked by fear and uncertainty. He claimed that in 2025 alone, more than 1,200 enforced disappearances were recorded in Balochistan, including women and at least 75 students. According to the statement, over 1,000 individuals remain missing, with allegations of torture, extrajudicial killings, and unlawful detentions continuing to surface.

He further accused Pakistani authorities of enabling unchecked exploitation of Balochistan's natural resources. He asserted that despite the province's vast reserves of copper and gold, local communities remain impoverished while external actors benefit disproportionately.

He also raised concerns over the displacement of indigenous communities without consent, calling it a violation of international frameworks such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The continued detention of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch, reportedly held for over a year following a peaceful protest, was cited as an example of state repression.

Calling the situation "a crisis of dignity and justice," he questioned the international community's inaction, warning against allowing "an entire people to fade into silence."

He urged the UNHRC to take concrete steps, including launching independent fact-finding missions in key areas like Reko Diq, and pressuring Pakistan to ratify international conventions related to enforced disappearances and indigenous rights. He also recommended that international funding be conditional upon verified community consent, local employment guarantees, and measurable poverty reduction.

The address concluded with a stark warning: "Justice delayed is justice denied," as calls grew louder for global intervention in what was described as a worsening humanitarian situation in Balochistan.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
The part about the natural resources is so telling. They take the copper and gold but leave the people in poverty. It's the same story everywhere—exploitation without development. My heart goes out to the mothers searching for their children. 😔 The UNHRC needs to send that fact-finding mission immediately.
R
Rohit P
While the situation in Balochistan is undoubtedly serious, we must also be cautious. This statement comes from a Japanese activist at the UN. We need to see more concrete evidence and reactions from within Pakistan itself. Sometimes these international forums are used for geopolitical point-scoring. Just my two cents.
S
Sarah B
The scale of this is horrifying. 1000+ people still missing? And detaining a peaceful activist like Dr. Mahrang Baloch for over a year is a clear sign of repression. The world talks about human rights, but where is the action? Funding should 100% be tied to community consent and poverty reduction, as suggested.
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Vikram M
Pakistan's hypocrisy is on full display. They lecture others on human rights while their own house is in such disorder. The plight of the Baloch people has been going on for decades. It's good someone finally spoke up at the UNHRC. Hope it leads to more than just statements.
K
Kavya N
As an Indian, it's difficult to read this without thinking of our own challenges in some regions. But the numbers here are staggering. The international community's inaction is a failure. When will powerful countries put human lives above geopolitical interests? #StandWithBaloch

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