Sep 07, 2011

Climate of Fear in Balochistan


Enforced Disappearances, Extra-judicial Killings and Arbitrary Detention in Balochistan

 

Palais des Nations, Geneva, 15th September 2011

 

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) will co-host a parallel event at the 18th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Entitled ‘Climate of Fear: Enforced Disappearances, Extrajudicial Killings and Arbitrary Detention in Balochistan’, this event will bring together a panel of experts to raise awareness of the increasing number of enforced disappearances in Balochistan and prompt the international and national communities to act. Human Rights Watch, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Amnesty International have each published recent reports on the alarming number of enforced disappearances occurring in Balochistan in recent months.

The parallel event will begin at 12:00 on the 15th September in room XXIII of the Palais des Nations at the UN in Geneva. Statements will be made by two representatives of the Baloch Community. Mr Noordin Mengal, a prominent figure in bring Baloch issues to the UN and EU, and Senator Sanaullah Baloch, a former member of Parliament of Pakistan, having served as a member of the Senate of Pakistan (2003- 2008) and as a Member of the National Assembly (1997 - 1999).

 In addition, this event will feature statements from representatives of NGOs with expert knowledge of the alarming situation in Balochistan. These representatives will highlight problems caused by Pakistani government agents and Baloch militant groups, as well as the findings and recommendations from their own research.