India Pakistan Relations: India has denounced Pakistan for “baseless remarks” that it said were “politically motivated and unfounded” about Jammu and Kashmir, referring to it as “another habitual attempt” to deflect attention from serious child rights violations that are still occurring in Pakistan. India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, R Ravindra, stated on Wednesday (local time) during the UN Security Council‘s open discussion on Children and Armed Conflict that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are both integral and alienable components of India.
India’s Firm Rebuttal to Pakistan’s Allegations
Before concluding his remarks during the debate, R Ravindra said, “Let me respond briefly in the interest of time to remarks which were obviously politically motivated and unfounded, made by one representative against my country. I categorically dismiss and condemn these baseless remarks with the contempt they deserve.”
“This is nothing but another habitual attempt to divert attention from the grave violations against children that continue unabated in his own country, as highlighted in this year’s Secretary General’s report on children and armed conflict. As far as Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh concerned, they were, are, always, will be an integral and inalienable part of India, irrespective of what this particular representative or his country believes or wishes,” he added.
His comments followed the mention of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan’s delegate during the UNSC debate. R Ravindra stated at the UNSC debate that the yearly discussion has helped the international community understand how important it is to stop violations against children and has highlighted the difficulties encountered by kids in armed conflict.
25 Years of Progress
The Indian envoy said, “This year marks 25 years since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1261 on children and armed conflict. Over the years, the annual debate has brought to fore the challenges faced by children in situations of armed conflict and helped the international community to recognize the importance of preventing and ending violations against children.”
“Towards this end, we greatly appreciate the work of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. However, there remains much progress to be made with the changing landscape of armed conflicts and the varied nature of vulnerabilities that children face,” he added.
The breadth and depth of severe breaches committed against children in armed conflict, he said, is a “matter of deep concern.” He emphasized the necessity for more focused and committed action in response to terrorists’ severe violations of children, including sexual assault, exploitation, abuse, and other atrocities.
Insights from the SGS Report
R Ravindra said, “This year’s SGS report presents a sobering account of the escalating threats faced by children in the conflict zones. Terrorists and armed groups continue to commit the majority of the violations. In this context, let me make the following five points. National governments have the primary responsibility for protecting the rights of the child as mandated by the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
“We continue to encourage Member States to ratify the optional protocol to the Convention on Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and to adopt robust legal frameworks for the protection and promotion of child rights. The abuse, exploitation, sexual violence, and other grave violations against children committed by terrorists need greater focus and determined action,” he added.
Government Responsibility and the Threat of Extremist Indoctrination
He emphasized that the only way to overcome this difficulty is for the government, whose territory these companies operate, to take decisive action. He stated that minors are especially susceptible to indoctrination through violent extremist ideas intended to promote terrorism.
R Ravindra said, “The importance of quality education and skill development to mitigate negative consequences cannot be overemphasized. Use of digital tools to provide education, vocational training and psychosocial support open up new opportunities for children in conflict situations.”
“Protecting schools, especially girls’ schools and health care facilities and its personnel must be accorded priority. There is a need for a more inclusive approach to provide protection to child victims of armed conflicts. Those children who face relocation and reintegration require special attention. Children who grow up in conflict and post-conflict situations often need a fresh start,” he added.
According to him, India understands that in order to implement successful child protection initiatives, peacekeeping operations must have an adequate number of advisors dedicated to child protection as well as adequate resources. During his speech, Ravindra reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to aiding the UN in its efforts to safeguard children during armed conflict.
Fundamental Right to a Joyful Childhood
The Indian envoy said, “The right to a joyful childhood leading to a life full of opportunities is a fundamental right of every child. The health, education, and creative abilities of our children and young people will determine the well- being and strength of humanity. Children are the future of the world. Let me conclude by reiterating India’s firm commitment to supporting the UN in its endeavours to protect children in situations of armed conflict.”
USCIRF Cites Concerns Over Religious Freedom in India
Meanwhile, Citing the purported surge in “hate speech,” demolitions, and anti-conversion laws, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an organization India has harshly criticized in the past, has once again expressed “concerns” about religious freedoms. Every year, the report conducts an international survey of religious freedom with the goal of offering a “fact-based, comprehensive view of the state of religious freedom” in around 200 nations and territories.
The conclusions coincide with the start of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term in power, which was marked by an agreement between the US and India to expand high-tech collaboration during White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan’s visit to New Delhi.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters at a Washington event on Monday, “We see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, and demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities in India.” Rashad Hussain, the US ambassador-at-large for worldwide religious freedom, also voiced worries on the state of affairs in India.
“In India, Christian communities reported that local police aided mobs that disrupted worship services over accusations of conversion activities, or stood by while mobs attacked them and then arrested the victims on conversion charges,” he said