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Press Release

Pakistan calls for re-evaluation of R2P doctrine in light of genocide in Gaza & rights abuses in IIOJK

New York, July 1, 2024: Pakistan has stated that the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the worst human rights violations in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are clear examples of the failure of the "Responsibility to Protect (R2P)" concept and the prevention of genocide and war crimes against humanity.

Speaking during the 97th plenary meeting of General Assembly today, Ambassador Munir Akram, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, said that given the scale of killings, devastation and the humanitarian crisis, there is no more apt situation calling for urgent intervention to stop the genocide than in Gaza where he said international community has failed so far.

Ambassador Akram asked: Where are original eloquent proponents of R2P? Some block the Security Council from demanding a ceasefire, while others supply arms to Israel, even after ICJ called to stop this “plausible genocide.” Resolution 2735 remains unimplemented and the Israeli military operations continue unabated.

He further asked: Is this not a situation where the Security Council, acting under the Genocide Convention, reinforced by the R2P doctrine should intervene to offer protection to the victims in Gaza?

“The OIC has proposed creation of a Protection Force. This must be urgently considered by the Security Council,” he demanded.

Ambassador Munir Akram asked the international community to consider how best it can help in preventing other genocides, war crimes and crimes against humanity, stating that by the example of Gaza – it is evident that peoples under the foreign occupation face a greater risk of the rights abuses of the worst kind.

The Pakistan UN envoy said two years ago, Genocide Watch warned of genocide in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir where 900,000 Indian troops are suppressing Kashmiris' quest for freedom. Over 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed, 20,000 women raped and thousands of people including the 13000 youth have been disappeared.

He drew the attention of the international community to what he said was “an equally serious danger, which has arisen from the officially sponsored ideology of Hindutva- an ideology that encourages the establishment of a Hindu - only Bharat.

He said the head of Genocide Watch has also warned of potential genocide against 200 million Muslims in India.

Ambassador Akram asked the Special Advisor on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) to take cognizance of Pakistan’s call and pay special attention to the situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and within India.

Talking about the concept of R2P, Ambassador Munir Akram said that introduced during the 2005 UN Summit, R2P was meant to address genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. He said the primary responsibility for protection rests with the state itself.

Only if the national authorities are unable or unwilling to do so can the international community take collective action through the Security Council on a case-by-case basis, he said.

He said unfortunately, R2P has been misapplied beyond its intended scope, leading to controversial interventions, such as in Syria and Libya, often with disastrous consequences. Some interventions were unilateral, without Security Council endorsement.

“This authority exists already under the Genocide Convention. The value addition was its extension to the war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity as defined in the Geneva Conventions and accompanying international humanitarian laws,” he explained the concept.

Ambassador Akram said Pakistan urges a re-evaluation of R2P to ensure adherence to the principles outlined in the 2005 Outcome Document, preventing misuse and better protecting human rights globally.

July 01, 2024, NewYork

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