During the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Japanese human rights advocate Shun Fujiki delivered an oral statement in which he strongly condemned Pakistan for purported human rights abuses in Balochistan.
In his address to the council, Fujiki implored delegates to envision the plight of Baloch mothers frantically seeking their missing family members, painting a bleak picture filled with fear and doubt. He asserted that in 2025, Balochistan witnessed over 1,200 cases of enforced disappearances, involving women and at least 75 students. The statement indicated that more than 1,000 people are still unaccounted for, with ongoing reports of torture, extrajudicial killings, and illegal detentions.
He also alleged that Pakistani officials are allowing the unregulated exploitation of Balochistan's natural resources. He claimed that although the province has extensive copper and gold reserves, the local communities continue to live in poverty while outsiders gain excessively.
He expressed worries about the relocation of indigenous groups without their approval, labeling it a breach of global standards like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ongoing imprisonment of activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch, allegedly detained for more than a year after a non-violent demonstration, was mentioned as an instance of governmental oppression.
Describing the situation as "a crisis of dignity and justice," he criticized the international community for its lack of response, cautioning against letting "an entire population disappear into silence."
He called on the UNHRC to implement tangible actions, such as initiating independent fact-finding missions in critical regions like Reko Diq, and to exert pressure on Pakistan to endorse international treaties concerning enforced disappearances and indigenous rights. Additionally, he suggested that international financial aid should be contingent on confirmed community approval, assurances of local employment, and demonstrable poverty alleviation.
The speech ended with a strong warning: 'Justice delayed is justice denied,' as demands intensified for international action regarding the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Balochistan.
