UNITED NATIONS:UN human rights chief Volker Turk has voiced over the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as he called on the international community to intensify efforts to defend fundamental freedoms and the institutions founded to promote them.

“I am concerned by the use of restrictive laws and harassment against human rights defenders and independent journalists resulting in arbitrary detention and a diminished civic space, including in Kashmir, “Turk told the Human Rights Council, which is meeting in Geneva.

He also called for stepped-up efforts to address violence and displacement in the Indian state of Manipur, based on dialogue, peacebuilding and human rights.

Turk’s remarks about Kashmir, drew a protest from India’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, who  called them “unfounded and baseless.”

“As India was mentioned by name, let me begin by emphasizing that the world’s largest democracy continues to be a healthy, vibrant and pluralistic society. Unfounded and baseless comments in the update contrast jarringly with ground realities,” the Indian envoy claimed.

Presenting his global update covering more than 30 countries, the High Commissioner noted that there were some 20 conflicts described as “outrageous” the fact that legal safeguards for non-combatants were being repeatedly ignored around the world.

“Civilians are deliberately attacked. Sexual violence and famine are used as weapons of war,” Turk said. “Humanitarian access is denied, while weapons flow across borders and circumvent international sanctions. And humanitarian workers are targeted.”

In 2024, he added, a record 356 humanitarian workers were killed while providing aid to people in some of the world’s most appalling crises.”

“Our world is going through a period of turbulence and unpredictability, reflected in growing conflict and divided societies,” the High Commissioner said.

“We cannot allow the fundamental global consensus around international norms and institutions, built painstakingly over decades, to crumble before our eyes.”

In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the UN rights chief emphasized that the fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza “and becomes the basis for peace”.

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He also stressed that aid deliveries into Gaza should resume immediately, just as Israel announced a halt to aid flowing into the shattered enclave, having proposed extending the first phase of the ceasefire which ended at the weekend and which would allow Israeli troops to stay in Gaza.