Sheraz Hussain
NEW YORK: Pakistan has called for the universal and equal application of human rights, stressing that the credibility of the international human rights system depends on ensuring that principles are implemented consistently without discrimination or selectivity.
Speaking during the General Debate of the Third Committee of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan Ambassador Usman Jadoon said international law and human rights standards could not be strongly invoked in one situation while being ignored in another.
He said the suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, remained a major test of the international community’s commitment to human rights and international law. He called for civilian protection, unhindered humanitarian assistance, respect for international law and accountability, while reaffirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
Ambassador Jadoon said the same principle of self-determination applied to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who had been awaiting the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions for nearly eight decades. These resolutions provide for a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices to determine the territory’s future.
He said India’s actions since August 5, 2019, had been accompanied by increased restrictions on fundamental freedoms and efforts to change the demographic and political character of the occupied territory. He stressed that arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances and restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly could not become acceptable through the passage of time.
Addressing other human rights challenges, Ambassador Jadoon called for concerted efforts to combat Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia, emphasising that human dignity must remain independent of religion, nationality or identity.
He recalled Pakistan’s initiative that led to the designation of March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and the appointment of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on the issue.
Highlighting the broader human rights agenda, he called for greater attention to the right to development, equitable development financing, climate justice, technology transfer and reform of the international financial architecture, particularly to address the challenges faced by developing countries.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s role in promoting inclusion and accessibility, referring to the General Assembly’s consensus adoption on September 2 of a Pakistan-led resolution on access to assistive technology.
Ambassador Jadoon reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, international cooperation and peaceful resolution of disputes, urging the international community to bridge the gap between human rights commitments made at the United Nations and the realities faced by people worldwide.
“Dignity is not determined by power, justice is not conditioned by politics, and development is not a privilege,” he said, calling for a human rights system that applies its principles universally and without selectivity.
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