Balochistan: UN should take notice of schools closure and acid attacks on women

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The General Secretary of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, Farzana Majeed Baloch, has appealed the united nation to take notice of acid attacks on women and forced closure of girls’ schools in Balochistan.

In a statement issued to media on Thursday Farzana Majeed, one of the top female human rights activists in Balochistan, strongly condemned the acid attacks on women in Quetta and Mastung areas of Balochistan.

She said: “Acid attacks on six Baloch girls and women in less than 24 hours in two different areas of Balochistan are an illustration of barbarism.

“Baloch women are systematically being targeted by religious fanatics since 2010. In April 2010 Baloch women were attacked in Dalbandin and Kalat and in 2011 Baloch female teachers were attacked in Quetta.”

She said the United Nations and other international human rights organisation have failed to take notice of such attacks, adding that, “if [UN] continues to ignore acid attacks on Baloch women, the human rights situation in Balochistan would become more catastrophic and complicated.”

Farzana Majeed Baloch said that closing down girls schools in Panjgur is also a continuation of pre-planned attacks against Baloch women. “Since past three months the girls in Panjgur and surrounding areas are not able to attend schools due to continuous threats from extremist organisation,” she said.

She said: “Forcing girls to stay away from education and limiting them to their home by acid attacks are not permissible in any religion or law. Equal rights for girls are accepted under international laws and no religion or law can infringe these rights.”

She said that human right violations continue unabated in Balochistan in the name of religion and internationally accepted laws and covenants are not being implemented in Balochistan.

Farzana Majeed Baloch said: “Acid attacks on women in Balochistan are opening of a new chapter of human rights violation. The United nation should act on its charter and take notice of attacks on women in Balochistan and make sure that [Baloch] girls are not deprived of their basic right of education.”