VHP calls upon UN to intervene against human rights violations of minorities in Pak, Bangladesh

A day ahead of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Annalena Baerbock's visit to India, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday called upon the international organisation to intervene against ''persistent human rights violations'' of religious minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In a letter to Baerbock, VHP International President Alok Kumar highlighted instances of alleged persecution, forced conversions and violence against religious minorities, specifically Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Christian communities, in both countries. Citing recent reports from UN human rights mechanisms and observations by experts, the letter noted a ''disturbing rise in cases of forced conversions and marriages involving minor girls in Pakistan.'' ''The majority of victims in these cases belong to Hindu and Christian communities, with such incidents reported with particular frequency in Sindh province. ''Victims are subjected to physical, psychological, and social abuse. The response of Pakistan's law enforcement agencies to such cases has also frequently been described as inadequate,'' Kumar said in a statement. Similarly, the letter cited numerous instances of violence and discrimination against religious minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh. ''According to reports, a large number of incidents of communal violence targeting minority communities were recorded during August 2024 alone, it said. Kumar further claimed that the persistence and widespread nature of these incidents indicate that existing mechanisms for protecting the rights of minorities are insufficient. The VHP demanded an independent and impartial international investigation into forced conversions and violence against minorities, the establishment of a special mechanism to ensure the safety of victims and secure justice, and holding the concerned nations accountable in accordance with international human rights standards. It also called for the implementation of strict legal and institutional measures to safeguard women and minors. VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said the organisation has urged the United Nations' leadership to prioritise the issue and ensure concrete action so that the lives, liberty, dignity, and rights of the affected communities are protected. A copy of the letter has also been marked to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Baerbock, is scheduled to visit India on April 28, during which she will discuss key multilateral issues of mutual interest with the external affairs minister, the MEA had announced last Friday. Soon after the former German foreign minister's election to the post last year, the United Nations had said in a statement that she assumed the role at a challenging time, with ongoing conflicts, faltering development goals, mounting financial pressures, and the upcoming selection of the next secretary-general.

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