49th Session UNHRC: Intervention by Mr. Junaid Qureshi (Director EFSAS)
22-03-2022, Geneva (Virtual)
Text and video of Mr. Junaid Qureshi's Intervention on General Debate Item 4 (Human rights situations that require the Council's attention) during the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Video of Mr. Junaid Qureshi's Intervention on General Debate Item 4 during the 49th Session of the UNHRC
"Mr. President,
I would like to the draw the Council’s attention to the issue of Jammu & Kashmir, the land of my forefathers, which has been debated at this august Council for decades. Most of the terminology related to the issue coined by the UN is in common usage and has become accepted and established over the years. Formulation and adoption of appropriate terminology plays a vital role not only in defining the contours of a conflict, but also in the quest for a meaningful resolution.
In the case of Jammu & Kashmir, while the terminology for the Indian and Pakistani administered portions of the erstwhile princely State is well settled, the same cannot be said of Aksai Chin.
Aksai Chin comprises more than 20% of the territory of Jammu & Kashmir, and is roughly the same size as Bhutan.
Based on existing terminology on the Jammu & Kashmir issue, the UN and its various arms like the UNHRC seem to have completely overlooked the illegal occupation of large parts of its territory by China. This omission has had serious implications for the way the Jammu & Kashmir issue is perceived, and it has impeded knowledge and comprehension of China’s expansionist designs.
Mr. President,
In view of the importance of essential terminology to the search for solutions to complex issues, I call upon this esteemed Council to adopt and formalize the term ‘China occupied Jammu & Kashmir’ for referring to the large portions of my homeland that Beijing illegally holds today.
Thank you".
Note: The Representative of the People's Republic of China raised a Point of Order on this Intervention (after it was delivered), which is reproduced below:
"Thank you Mr. President.
The Representative of the NGO made a statement which undermines the territorial integrity and sovereignty of China and has violated the UN Charter. China requests that this NGO will not be given the floor".
