Earlier this week the United Nations (UN) published an article which raised concerns about the lack of protection for minority girls from forced religious conversions and forced marriage (read here). At first glance, it seems the UN experts are lending a voice to minority communities (Hindu, Sikh, Christian etc. communities), let’s take a closer look.
The article mentions a summary of the facts from a report/research piece (read here) that dates back to 2022. Did the UN collect any statistical data in 2023, which would suggest a rise or fall in the number of forced religious conversions or forced marriages?
The blog alleges the UN has written a report “based on the information received”. They fail to mention what information they received, sources or even a credible general overview, broken down by region for example.
The report refers to eight cases which are supposedly “indicative of a wider phenomenon throughout the country”. Eight cases suggest the sample size is not wide enough to truly represent the marginalised community and perhaps assumptions are made to fill in the gaps, when in reality forced religious conversions and forced marriages are happening regularly.
Why are international UN experts failing to proactively address these issues and set deterrents such as economic sanctions to those who fail to play by the rules and instead choose to partake in UN violations? Is this just a bit of lip service by the UN?
Human rights violations are just as important if not slightly more important than other matters on the UN agenda because they force members of society into actions against their own will. INSIGHT UK interviewed some key members of society who are vocal on these matters to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the atrocities and human rights violations against whole regions of society during the October campaign last year.
When will UN experts provide a thorough report to further investigate the concerns raised by many, including INSIGHT UK?
Forcing Hindus to leave their homes and livelihoods and flee from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to name a few because they fear for their lives does not and cannot provide a long-term solution to this crisis of human rights violations which affect the global Hindu diaspora.
Since when was the forceful conversion and taking of another life ever justified? This is akin to murder and international sanctions should set clear deterrents against this criminal behaviour.
India has recently implemented the CAA (Understanding the Citizenship Amendment Act) which aims to provide citizenship to the persecuted religious minorities who have fled to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before 2014.
