GENEVA, 21 August 2026 — More than 500 members of the Kashmiri diaspora from the United Kingdom and European Union gathered peacefully outside the Palais des Nations in Geneva today to call for urgent United Nations action concerning the escalating human rights crisis in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

The three-hour demonstration, held from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, brought together community members, human rights advocates and supporters of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, known as JKJAAC. Participants expressed solidarity with civilians, students, teachers, journalists, lawyers, traders and human rights defenders affected by measures imposed following the proscription of JKJAAC on 5 June 2026.

Representatives of the demonstration formally delivered a memorandum addressed to Mr Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, requesting urgent preventive action, independent scrutiny and protection for civilians and human rights defenders.

Message from Geneva
The demonstration called on the United Nations to protect human life, human dignity, peaceful civic participation and the rule of law. Participants stressed that individual allegations of unlawful conduct must be investigated through due process and must not be used to punish an entire movement, community or family.

Memorandum calls for urgent OHCHR intervention

The memorandum asks the High Commissioner to engage directly with the Government of Pakistan and the authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, support joint action by relevant UN Special Procedures and bring the situation to the attention of appropriate United Nations human rights and prevention mechanisms.

The memorandum requests:

· An independent investigation into all reported killings, injuries, detention and alleged denial of medical access

· Disclosure of the legal and factual basis for JKJAAC’s proscription and associated anti-terrorism measures

· An immediate end to arbitrary arrests, reprisals and restrictions based solely on peaceful civic activity

· Restoration of internet and mobile communications and access for independent media and monitors

· Individual review of Fourth Schedule listings and withdrawal of reward notices pending lawful judicial process

· Restoration of identity documents, bank accounts, passports and essential public services

· Reopening of deregistered private schools and protection of children’s education and teachers’ livelihoods

· Protection of journalists, lawyers, educators, women human rights defenders and witnesses from reprisals

· Implementation of agreements previously signed with JKJAAC

· Restoration of meaningful, peaceful and rights-based dialogue

Participants challenge the criminalisation of a public-rights movement

Speakers highlighted official records showing that JKJAAC had previously been treated by the Governments of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir as a recognised negotiating stakeholder. Agreements reached in 2024 and October 2025 concerned electricity tariffs, flour supply, education, health care, infrastructure, local government, compensation, withdrawal of criminal cases, student unions, accountability and democratic representation.

Government records also show that JKJAAC representatives continued to participate in Monitoring and Implementation Committee processes during 2026. On 28 May 2026, JKJAAC core members were formally invited to an official meeting concerning disputed legislative constituencies. Eight days later, on 5 June 2026, JKJAAC was proscribed under anti-terrorism legislation.

“JKJAAC was negotiating with the authorities through formal agreements and implementation committees until days before its proscription. Any credible allegation of criminal conduct must be independently investigated against the individuals concerned. It must not be used to criminalise an entire public-rights movement or collectively punish its supporters and their families.”

Human rights concerns raised during the demonstration

· Reported civilian killings and injuries and allegations of excessive force

· Arbitrary arrests and preventive detention

· Internet and mobile communications restrictions

· Mass Fourth Schedule listings affecting activists and supporters

· Reward notices issued against senior JKJAAC figures

· Reported cancellation or blocking of national identity cards

· Restrictions affecting bank accounts, passports, mobile communications, employment and medical treatment

· Deregistration of 13 private schools following alleged protest participation by students, staff or management

· Loss of education for affected children and loss of employment for private-school teachers

· Reprisals against journalists, lawyers, educators and human rights defenders

· Particular risks faced by women activists, teachers and school leaders

Speakers acknowledged that some casualty figures and individual allegations remain contested and called for a prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigation.

Geneva Public Declaration adopted

At the end of the demonstration, participants adopted the Geneva Public Declaration on Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir. The declaration condemned unlawful violence regardless of who commits it and reaffirmed JKJAAC’s commitment to peaceful, constitutional and democratic action.

Public declaration
“Peaceful protest is not terrorism. Criticism of government is not terrorism. Demanding democratic equality is not terrorism. Defending human rights is not terrorism.”

The declaration called for accountability, restoration of communications, review of anti-terrorism restrictions, reopening of schools, restoration of legal identity and essential services, protection of human rights defenders and renewed rights-based dialogue.

Appeal to the international community

Participants urged OHCHR, relevant UN Special Procedures, diplomatic missions, international human rights organisations and independent media to monitor the situation and take preventive action. Particular attention was requested from mandates concerning counter-terrorism and human rights, human rights defenders, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of expression, privacy and legal identity, education, health, extreme poverty, violence against women and girls, and arbitrary detention.

“We are not asking the United Nations to take sides in a political dispute. We are asking it to stand with human life, human dignity, democratic freedom and the rule of law. Children must not lose their education, and no living person should be excluded from ordinary civil life because of peaceful association or protest.”

Next steps

The organisers will provide OHCHR and relevant UN mechanisms with supporting evidence, including official notifications, agreements, committee records, legal applications and thematic briefings. Further evidence is being collected concerning identity restrictions, banking and passport access, school enrolment and employment, medical treatment, detention, casualties and witness testimony.

Any verified response received from OHCHR or the authorities will be communicated through JKJAAC’s official channels.

Quick links

About

Agreements

Our Journey

Govt Notifications

Demands

Tracker

Press Releases

© 2025 Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee. All rights reserved.

CONTACT US

Email:

admin@jkjaac.co